Medieval Section of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Medieval Group Meeting on Monday, 17th March

The next meeting of the University of Leeds Medieval Group is on Monday, 17 March. As always, we will begin with tea and biscuits at 5 followed by a paper at 5.30 in the Le Patourel room (Parkinson 406).

William Flynn and Jane Flynn (Institute for Medieval Studies), ‘The Experience of Worship in Late-Medieval Parish Church: Two Participants’ Views of an AHRC/ESRC project’

The speakers will be showing extracts from the Liturgies at St Teilo’s Church which formed part of the project ‘The Experience of Worship in Late Medieval Cathedral and Parish Church’ (John and Sally Harper- Lead investigators. See more at: http://www.experienceofworship.org.uk/) in which they both participated as Lord (Bill) and Lady (Jane) of the manor, Beguine nun (Jane) and the nuns’ prior (Bill), boy chorister (Jane), Steward (Bill), poor parishioner (Jane) and choral clerk (Bill). The presentation will focus on the aims of the project, the particular research formation and questions that Bill and Jane brought to it, how the project evolved over the four years during which they participated in it, and reflect on its influence on their own research.

Dr William Flynn is Lecturer in Medieval Latin at the Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Leeds. He is a graduate of University of Rochester (BMus), University of Edinburgh (MMus) and Duke University (MA, PhD). His research and publication focus on the interactions between liturgy, music and theology, elementary music and grammar instruction to 1200, music in the context of Latin palaeography, music theory to 1300 and writings of Hildegard of Bingen. Among his publications are Medieval Music as Medieval Exegesis (Scarecrow Press, 1999) and a performing edition of Hildegard of Bingen’s O frondens virga (Chapel Hill, 1998); “Ductus figuratus et subtilis: Rhetorical Interventions for Women in Two Twelfth-Century Liturgies’, in Rhetoric Beyond Words, ed. Mary Carruthers (Cambridge University Press, 2009); ‘Singing with the Angels: Hildegard of Bingen’s Representations of Celestial Music’, in Conversations with Angels, ed. Joan Raymond (Houndsmills, 2009); “Letters, Liturgy and Identity: The Use of the Sequence Epithalamica at the Paraclete,” in Sapientia et Eloquentia: Meaning and Function in Liturgical Poetry, Music, Drama, and Biblical Commentary in the Middle Ages, ed. Gunilla Iversen and Nicolas Bell (Turnhout, 2009). http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/profile/20046/1196/william_flynn

Dr Jane Flynn is Visiting Research Fellow, Institute for Medieval Studies. Her research and publications centre on music and pedagogy up to c 1650, keyboard music, vocal and instrumental improvisation from the mid-14^th to the mid-17th centuries, Machaut and English liturgical music. Among her publications are: ‘The Education of Choristers in England during the Sixteenth Century’, in English Choral Practice, c. 1400-c. 1650, ed. John Morehen (1995), ‘The Intabulation of De toutes flours in the Codex Faenza as Analytical Model’ in Machaut’s Music: New Interpretations, ed. Elizabeth Leach (2005) and Laus angelica Poetry in the Medieval Mass (Turnhout, 2010). http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/profile/20046/1199/jane_flynn

Everyone is welcome and we hope to see you there!

Emilia Jamroziak (on behalf of Medieval Group committee)

Bedale Hoard

If anyone is visiting York before the end of the month, you may wish to visit the Yorkshire Museum. The Bedale Hoard is on display there until the end of March. The museum is currently trying to raise the £50,000 needed for them to keep it there.

I’ve drawn the following text from the Yorkshire Museum press release but Rebecca Griffiths, the Portable Antiquities Officer who excavated the hoard, spoke to the Medieval Section in March about the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and talked about this discovery.

The Bedale Hoard represents a Viking’s life savings containing unique styles of jewellery which have never been seen before. It was found by a metal detectorist in May 2012 and includes a gold sword pommel and a silver neck ring and neck collar, the likes of which have never been recorded. The detectorist informed the North Yorkshire finds liaison officer of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, Rebecca Griffiths, based at the Yorkshire Museum. She and her colleague from the museum then went to the site and unearthed the rest of the hidden treasures.

It was discovered in a part of Yorkshire which very little is known about in the Viking period, so the very fact it exists sheds new light on the region one thousand years ago.

This discovery proves that there was wealth here. It is hoped that the Yorkshire Museum can buy the hoard to enable them to conduct research to help us get a better understanding of the people who lived in Yorkshire at that time.

The full hoard consists of a gold sword pommel, the unique silver neck ring and neck collar, a silver armlet, 29 silver ingots, two other silver neck rings, gold rivets and half a silver brooch.

Archaeologists believe it is from the late ninth or early tenth century. The large gold sword pommel is believed to be from an Anglo-Saxon sword. This is made from iron and is inlaid with plaques of gold foil. These plaques bear Trewhiddle style decoration (named after a hoard found in Trewhiddle, Cornwall), consisting of animals, which was a common style all over England in the ninth century. This decoration is usually applied to silver and copper alloy and its use on gold is rare: its use on large foils, like those found here, is otherwise unknown. With the pommel were four oval ring mounts from the grip of a sword. These are made from gold and they bear incised Trewhiddle style animal interlace. Six, tiny, dome headed, gold rivets may also have been used on a sword hilt.

The unique neck collar is made up of four ropes of twisted silver strands joined together at each end. They terminate in hooks which would have been linked together when the collar was worn.

There are three other twisted neck rings, one of which has been cut in two as ‘hack silver’.

The two halves of this piece are also unique in several respects and together with the neck collar represent an unusual west Viking variant.

Like most of the hoards of the period the Bedale find is dominated by silver ingots of which there were twenty nine.

The hoard also contained a piece of a ‘Permian’ ring, cut as hack-silver – a design of Russian origin.

A broad, flat arm-ring of Hiberno-Scandinavian type, made by Vikings in Ireland, is also represented in the hoard. This is decorated with a pattern of stamp impressed grooves. Also from Ireland are the hack-silver remains of a bossed penannular brooch.

Medieval Miscellany: Violent Deaths and Anti-Social Noise

New member Alan Longbottom has kindly contributed some anecdotal Medieval references that he has come across recently in the Calendar of Papal Registers:-

To William de Spalding Canon of Sculdham – football death

1321 – Kal May Avignon f. 149

William de Spalding, Canon of Sculdham of the Order of Sempingham.

During a game at ball (ad pilam) as he kicked the ball (cum pede), a lay friend of his, also called William, ran against him and wounded himself on a sheathed knife, carried by the Canon, so severely that he died within six days.

Dispensation granted, as no blame is attached to William de Spalding, who, feeling deeply the death of his friend, and fearing what might be said by his enemies, has applied to the Pope.

Vol 2 – 1305-1342 1895 591 pp.214

And,

1324 – Kal Apr Avignon f. 131d

To William de Norvella, of the Diocese of Lincoln. Dispensation touching the death of one of his fellow scholars, caused by a blow given in a fight with sticks about victuals which were being taken; the scholar dying 40 days after the blow, perhaps by neglect of the physician. William may be ordained and hold benefices.

Vol 2 – 1305-1342 1895 591 p.239

1401 – 16 Kal Dec St. Peter’s Rome f. 6

To Emma Scherman of the Diocese of York. Indult to her who formerly took a vow of a recluse, and has had herself for many years enclosed in a cell in a place of Pontefract, with a little garden (ortulo) contiguous thereto for the sake of taking fresh air (refrigerum aeris recaptando),

On account of the tumults and clamours of the people in the said place, to transfer herself to a more suitable place, to have there another cell with a like garden, and to leave her cell yearly for the purpose of visiting churches and other pious places, and of gaining the indulgences granted there, without requiring licence of the diocesan or other. – Sincere Dilectionis.

Lateran Regesta C – 13 Boniface IX (p. 471)Vol 5 – 1396-1404 : 1904 – 814 pp.

Our sincerest thanks to Alan for sharing these with section members and blog readers.

Medieval Finds from Yorkshire reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme

Rebecca Griffiths talking to the Medieval Section about the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme

The lecture meeting on 8th March featured the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Rebecca Griffiths came to Claremont to talk about Medieval finds from Yorkshire. After describing the P.A.S., how it came into being and explaining the criteria for what constitutes treasure Rebecca showed us a selection of fascinating Medieval discoveries from the region, many of them found by metal-detectorists.

Over 18,000 objects have been reported from both North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire and 2100 from West Yorkshire and 3000 from South Yorkshire. The difference in the figures reflects the fact that there is more open agricultural land in the north and east of the county on which to metal-detect, whereas the west and south are more built up and there are fewer opportunities. The number of Treasure cases has risen over the years: from 673 in 2006 to over 1000 last year and so far this year there have been 150 cases.

Rebecca showed us some of the 23,400 early Medieval objects from the P.S.A.’s database, including strap-ends, a Visigothic buckle from North Yorkshire, an ansate or ‘caterpillar’ brooch, an enamelled disc brooch, clothing accessories such as hook tags, strap mounts, and pins with biconical and polyhedral pins, to name but a few. These objects offer an insight into the everyday lives of people rich and poor because the objects archaeologists have had to work with in the past have tended to be those buried as grave goods.

Polyhedral headed pin. Courtesy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Over 130,000 medieval objects have been reported from around the county. Strap ends were still used.Buckles become more common after being a status symbol in the early medieval period. Of special interest was the finger ring converted into a small buckle from the East Riding.

Stirrup ring brooch. Courtesy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Livery badge for Richard III. Courtesy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

A livery badge of Richard III is now on display in the Yorkshire Museum. There are also religious brooches with inscriptions like JESUS NAZA and AVE MARIA. Rebecca showed us photos of medieval harness mounts, seal matrices, and pilgrim souvenirs such as ampullae that contained holy water from a shrine. One may have come from a shrine at Montpellier.

Pilgrim badge from shrine at Montpellier. Courtesy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Rebecca also showed us some of the coins that have been found. There are over 45,000 early medieval coins on the P.S.A.’s national database. A rare tremissis from the Netherlands was found in North Yorkshire. Such discoveries are revolutionising the study of the coinage at this period.

Gold tremissis. Courtesy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Whereas the coinage of the various independent kingdoms that comprised Britain at this early date is necessarily varied, in the medieval period proper, so to speak, the coins tend to be standardised, even to the point of having the name of the previous king, HENRICVS, when in fact the coins were issued in the reign of King Richard and King John and early in the reign of Henry III. It can be very difficult to tell which ruler the coin belongs to when the defining characteristic is the degree of curliness of the king’s hair! Rebecca drew attention to the P.A.S.’s LOST CHANGE project which has mapped find-spots of coins of different periods from prehistoric through to medieval.

Gold brooch with decorative terminals in the shape of two hands in the attitude of prayer. Courtesy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Rebecca closed her talk by showing us some of the best finds: a gold brooch with hands clasped together in prayer; a finger ring inscribed with the name JESVS; a small hoard of silver pennies of Henry III and Edward I. But the Vale of York Hoard and the Bedale Hoard are some of the most spectacular discoveries. The Vale of York Hoard was found in 2007 and dates from the 10th century. It was found by two metal-detector users. The contents of the hoard reflect the wide geographical range of Viking trading contacts.

The Bedale hoard was found by metal-detectorists in 2012 and represents a Viking’s life savings. Not only does it contain unique styles of jewellery which have never been seen before, but the likes of the gold sword pommel, silver neck ring and neck collar in the hoard, have never previously been recorded. The full hoard consists of a gold sword pommel, the unique silver neck ring and neck collar, a silver armlet, 29 silver ingots, two other silver neck rings, gold rivets and half a silver brooch. The hoard also contained a piece of a ‘Permian’ ring, cut as hack-silver – a design of Russian origin. The finder back-filled the find-spot and called in the Portable Antiquities Officer at the Yorkshire Museum. Rebecca and a colleague from the museum went to the site and unearthed the rest of the hoard and recorded it in detail. The ingots had been placed at the bottom of the burial pit apparently in a box (though no remains were found) and tests of soil samples at the British Museum proved inconclusive. The sword and the jewellery were placed on top.

It is hoped that the Yorkshire Museum can buy the hoard to enable the staff based there to conduct research which will provide a better understanding of the people who lived in Yorkshire at the time the hoard was buried 1000 years ago, in the late 9th or early 10th century.

The Portable Antiquities Scheme has been the envy of archaeologists across Europe but it depends in part on the efforts of volunteers who record discoveries. In the current economic climate the budget can never be taken for granted and increasingly P.A.S. is looking to train the finders to record objects themselves.

The Medieval Section is very grateful to Rebecca and the Portable Antiquites Scheme for generously allowing the beautiful images of the objects to be reproduced on the blog.

Warrior Lore

Ian Cumpstey has emailed me to inform members of the section that he has published a book, Warrior Lore, that includes his translations into modern English verse of ten medieval Scandinavian folk ballads (mostly from the Swedish tradition). Further details can be found at Ian’s website at: http://www.northerndisplayers.co.uk (where you can also listen to readings from the book).

Ian has sent me the following information: ‘The Scandinavian folk ballads are narrative songs, and they represented part of a strong story-telling tradition, combining the story with poetry and music. Ballads of this type were first written down in about 1600, although they would have been first sung a couple of centuries earlier than that, probably around 1300.

Some of the ballads included in Warrior Lore are:

Tales of the great North-European warrior Diderick of Bern and his group of fighters, with Widrick Waylandsson and Sivar Snare Sven.

A ballad of the Norwegian Viking king Harald Hardrada and his sporting contest in archery and skiing against a young fighter.

A folk version of the story of Thor’s retrieval of his stolen hammer from the troll Thrym.

The folk-ballad based on the true story of the abduction of Helena, the daughter of the Swedish king from Vreta Convent around 1200.

The cost is GBP 11.40 including UK P&P. The format is paperback, 76 pages with 10 full-colour illustrations.’

It can be ordered online from the website:
http://www.northerndisplayers.co.uk

Viking Age in North Yorkshire – Myth, Legend and Folklore

Northallerton & District Local History Society’s next guest speaker is Martin Arnold, Reader in Old Northern Studies at the University of Hull. His specialist area is Old Norse myth, legend and culture. Dr Arnold has published books on Icelandic sagas and the history of the Viking Age. His latest book, “Thor: Myth to Marvel”, traces the history of the Norse god from ancient times through to his depictions in contemporary popular culture.

Martin’s presentation examines the traces of Woden/Odin worship that can be glimpsed in North Yorkshire’s folklore. His main focus is on the Roman road that runs from Malton to Runswick Bay which has since become known as Wade’s Way. Folklore has it that a giant known as Wade, along with the sometimes testy assistance of his wife Bel, built this ancient pathway. Martin will argue that Wade actually signifies the chief of the Norse gods and that this single folk-tale offers a remarkable window onto a great swathe of early Germanic myths and legends, first imported by the Anglo-Saxons and revived once again by the Viking colonists.

This illustrated presentation promises to shine a new light on an adventurous people who left a significant mark on Yorkshire history and whose genes are carried by many of us today.

It will take place at the Sacred Heart Church Hall on Thirsk Road, Northallerton, where limited parking is available, at 7.00 pm on Tuesday, 11^th March. Non-members are welcome to attend at a nominal admission charge of £2.50, while students under 18 will be admitted free.

Archaeology Festival Volunteer, Conisbrough Castle

Do you have a passion for the past and an interest in archaeology?

Conisbrough Castle is currently undergoing a £1m re-development project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Doncaster Council and English Heritage. As part of this programme we will be undertaking the first excavations at Conisbrough Castle in almost 40 years this June and we would like to involve as many members of the community as possible by having a community and a schools dig alongside the works. We need volunteers to help us do this!

Would you like to train in archaeological skills? Would you have the confidence to talk to groups of people and to perhaps supervise a small hands on activity? Do you enjoy working as part of a team? Are you friendly, flexible and reliable? Then we’d love to hear from you! This rare opportunity to get involved with a community wide archaeology project at the castle begins with a full training programme so no previous experience of archaeology is necessary, however to join the training, which starts in April, you will need to be available during the two week dig (1st – 14th June 2014).

For full details about the training and the role on offer please see the role description on our volunteering website. Please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/volunteering and search for Conisbrough Castle to see more details and to find an application form. Or email volunteer.enquiries@english-heritage.org.uk if you have any queries.

Closing Date: 16th March 2014

A Kingdom of Elmet Bibliography

This being a first attempt to pull together something of a reading list for the topic of the Kingdom of Elmet. I make no claims that this to be complete but we have to start somewhere and if, at the very least, it provides an incentive to update the card index at Claremont, it will have served a useful purpose. I will gladly post any additions that section members may care to send me. Bryan

Edmund Bogg (1902) The old kingdom of Elmet: York and the Ainsty district: a descriptive sketch of the history, antiquities, legendary lore, picturesque features, and rare architecture London: J.Heywood

Andrew Breeze (2002) ‘The Kingdom and name of Elmet’, Northern History 39, 157-171.

C.Cessford (1997) ‘Northern England and the Gododdin poem’, Northern History 33.1, 218-222.

F.S.Colman (1908) ‘History of the Parish of Barwick in Elmet’ Thoresby Society Publication, 17,

M. Faull (1974) ‘Britons And Angels In Yorkshire’, Studium, 6 (Sydney), 1-23.

M. L. Faull, ‘Roman and Anglian Settlement Patterns in Yorkshire’, Northern History,
IX (1974), 1-25.

M.Faull (1977) ‘British Survival in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria’, in L.Laing (ed.) Studies in Celtic Survival British Archaeological Reports, 1-55.

M.L.Faull (1981) ‘West Yorkshire in the Post Roman Period’. In M.L.Faull and S.A.Moorhouse (eds.) West Yorkshire: an archaeological survey to A.D.1500 Wakefield, West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council, 171-224.

R.Geraint Gruffydd (1994) ‘In Search of Elmet’, Studia Celtica 28, 63-79.

Nick Higham (1993) The Kingdom of Northumbria AD 350-1100 Stroud, Allen Sutton

N.J.Higham (2001) ‘Britons in Northern England in the early Middle Ages:Through a Glass Darkly’, Northern History 38.1, 5-25.

G.R.J.Jones (1975) ‘Early territorial organization in Gwynedd and Elmet’ Northern History 10(1), 3-27. 16;

A. Longbottom (1936?) ‘The old kingdom of Elmet: a lecture given at the Faith Preceptory, No.13, held on Thursday, November 26th, 1936, in the Freemasons’ Hall, Manningham Lane, Bradford’ Bradford : Waddilove and Co. John Rylands Library Manchester Masonic Research Collection (R204039.2)

Mary-Ann Ochota (2013) Britain’s Secret Treasures London Headline pp.252-3.

A.L.F.Rivet and C.Smith (1979) The Place-Names of Roman Britain London Book Club Associates

Ian Roberts, Burgess, A. and Berg, D. eds. 2001. A New Link to the Past: The Archaeological Landscape of the M1-A1 Link Road, Yorkshire Archaeological Monograph 7, Leeds.

Ian Roberts, (2014) ‘Rethinking the Archaeology of Elmet’, in F.K.Haarer et al. (eds), AD 410: The History and Archaeology of Late and Post-Roman Britain (Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies), 182–194.

Ian Sanderson & Stuart Wrathmell (2005) Archaeology from the end of the Roman Conquest to the Norman Conquest West Yorkshire Research Agenda

A.H.Smith (1961-3) The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire Cambridge – 8 volumes; Kenneth Cameron (1968) ‘Eccles in English place-names’. In M.W.Barley and R.P.C.Hanson (eds.) Christianity in Britain 300-700 Leicester, 87-92.

C.M.Taylor (1992) ‘ELMET: boundaries and Celtic survival in the post-Roman period’, Medieval History 2.1, 111-129.

Charles Thomas (1981) Christianity in Roman Britain to AD 500. London, Batsford

T.D Whitaker (1816) Loidis and Elmete: or, an attempt to illustrate the districts described in those words by Bede; and supposed to embrace the lower portions of Aredale and Wharfdale, together with the entire dale of Calder, …. Leeds

P.N. Wood (1996) ‘On the little Kingdom of Craven’, Northern History 32.1, 1-20.

Alex Woolf (2004) ‘Caedualla Rex Brettonum and the passing of the old north’, Northern History, 41.1, 5-24.

Connecting Through Coinage – June 2014

David Lee of the Yorkshire Numismatic Society kindly sent details of the following free conference:

… examining the history and archaeology of Roman and Early Medieval York and Yorkshire through discussion of its coinage.

On the 13th and 14th of June 2014, York Museums Trust, in association with the University of York and the Yorkshire Numismatic Society, will host a two day conference which explores coinage in the past. Leading speakers from York and beyond will speak about coins, money and how they impact upon our understanding of the region. Prominent archaeologists, historians and numismatists will talk about how coinage can aid our understanding of the Roman and Early Medieval periods. The purpose of the conference is showcase the potential value of coinage to as wide an audience as possible and as such no previous knowledge of coinage is necessary.

Patrick Ottaway, author of Roman Yorkshire and renowned expert on the archaeology of Roman York, will give a keynote address considering York and coinage.

Professor Julian Richards (University of York) will discuss the archaeology of Early Medieval Yorkshire and the role that coin finds play within this.

Other Roman speakers include Roger Bland (British Museum), Rebecca Griffiths (Portable Antiquities Scheme/York Museums Trust), Philippa Walton (University of Oxford) and Richard Brickstock.

Other Early Medieval Speakers include Chris Scull (Cardiff University), John Naylor (University of Oxford), Jane Kershaw (University College London), Megan Gooch (Historic Royal Palaces) and Stewart Lyon.

Although this conference is free, numbers are limited so please register early. A vast array of extremely knowledgeable speakers and a chance to network with fellow enthusiasts. See you there!

Yorkshire Numismatic Society

Website: http://yorkshirenumismatic.blogspot.com/

Booty from Elmet?

Brooch fragment from the Leeds hoard (© Leeds Museums and Galleries). — Brooch fragment from the West Yorkshire Ring Hoard (© Leeds Museums and Galleries).

I am very grateful to Kat Baxter, Curator of Archaeology at Leeds Museums and Galleries, for allowing me to reproduce the beautiful photo of a brooch fragment from the Leeds or West Yorkshire Ring Hoard. The hoard was found by a metal-detectorist in 2008 and 2009, and Kat has worked very hard to fund-raise the money needed to acquire the hoard for Leeds. The brooch fragment is one of a number of pieces of jewellery, mostly rings that are later in date than this brooch fragment, and a piece of gold ingot.

A short account of the West Yorkshire Hoard was recently published in Mary-Ann Ochota’s Britain’s Secret Treasures (Headline Publishing, 2013: pp.252-3) from which I taken these details. The brooch fragment has been dated to the 600s AD, like the Staffordshire Hoard but the finger rings seem to date from between 800 and 1000 AD. Further investigation of the location where the hoard was discovered didn’t yield any conclusive results.

The brooch fragment, it is said, would have been an antique when it went into the ground. This is speculating wildly but is it conceivable that one possible explanation for the presence of the brooch fragment is that it was a piece of plunder associated with the Kingdom of Elmet? Could it be a piece of that high status material culture that either belonged to an important member of Elmetian society or had been brought back to Elmet as plunder? Of course the material could have been brought in from elsewhere and have no particular connection with the West Riding apart from being found here. We can’t possibly know but it is tempting to speculate in an idle moment and it is a very interesting set of objects.

Thanks are due to Kat Baxter for kindly allowing us to post this image on the Medieval Section blog. We look forward to hearing more when Kat comes to talk to the section about the hoard in of our future lecture meetings.