Anglo Saxon History

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Roman Briton officially ended in 410. It is likely that the Roman villa at Woodchester continued to be at the centre of a large estate but gradually it would have fallen in to disrepair. Possibly, it may have become the house of one of the local kings that emerged at this time, from the tribes that had been left behind after the Roman withdrawal.
To a very large extent, England as we know it was formed during the Anglo-Saxon period a fact that has really only emerged in the latter two decades of the twentieth century.
Many villages, towns and roads became firmly established in these centuries and survive to this day. Very importantly, the influence of Anglo-Saxon words has been at the root of the names of towns, villages and topographical features. In the Cotswolds the place names are predominantly Anglo-Saxon in origin although there are some old British words in use.
After the Romans left the remaining Britons much of Roman civilisation quickly disappeared. Some roman buildings were reused (as possibly at Woodchester) others as they collapsed were left and the inhabitants moved on. It must be remembered that communities were small and hence very mobile even if it meant just moving a wooden house a few metres. Even a large community in the fifth or sixth century was no bigger than five to ten households.
Immigrants, the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes began to settle in England during the fifth century and by the second half were in certain areas in some number. It is possible that there arrival was in fact encouraged by the local Britons, possibly as a semi-mercenary group to protect the British from barbarian invaders. Over time these immigrants became the more powerful force, but also inter-mixing more and more with the local British communities and putting down strong roots and assimilating the local British groups in to their own culture.
During the 500s the Anglo-Saxons had spread in to the area around Woodchester as there are cemeteries from Avening and Chavenage. These anglo-saxons having spread up the Thames Valley
By 600 the Anglo - Saxons (mostly from north Germany) had become dominant and taken over much of England including Gloucestershire. This area became part of the larger kingdom of Mercia and was ruled by a tribe called the Hwicce, an amalgamation of the British, Anglian and Saxon tribes of the Severn and Cotswolds. They were Christian and this helps to explain the early emergence of a church at Woodchester.
In fact, Christianity had been an official religion of Roman Britain from 313. It may have had widespread practice and seems to have continued being accepted even after the romans left. The Roman temple at Uley appears to have become a Christian church in the post-Roman period.
At Frocester, there is a 5th-6th century burial ground which appears to be Christian.
In the eighth and ninth century the two basic elements in Cotswold farming were sheep and grain. Sheep were kept for food but were already a source of wool and there is clear evidence of the emergence of the woollen indusrty at this time.
King Alfred protected the area from the invading Danes in the 9th Century and in the 10th century the English kings ruled the area but the biggest influence came from Earl Godwin, Earl of Wessex, in the 11th century prior to the Norman Conquest.
Below I have taken relevant extracts from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle that feature the area and other mentions in Anglo-Saxon records. Not surprisingly, the record is patchy at this time but that Woodchester is mentioned at all attests to some importance.
It begins with the battles fought by the Anglo-Saxon kings Cuthwin and Ceawlin who ruled the Gewisse tribe who were centred on Dorchester in Oxfordshire.

A.D. 577. This year Cuthwin and Ceawlin fought with the Britons, and slew three kings, Commail, and Condida, and Farinmail, on the spot that is called Derham, and took from them three cities, Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath.

A.D.628. This year Cynegils and Cwichelm fought with Penda at Cirencester, and afterwards entered into a treaty there. This was that they were defeated by Penda, the King of Mercia.

A.D.658. Penda, Mercian ruler of the Hwicce dies.

A.D. 660-750. Religious foundations established in Mercia. The Kingdom was a bishopric after 675.

A.D.716. The estate of Woodchester is described in a charter of between 716 and 745.
It consisted of an area of 'three cassates of wooded country' not too disimilar of the area today.

A.D. 716-57. Rule of the Mercian overlord Aethelbald.

A.D.741. The Woodchester charter of Aethelbald, King of the South Angles, grants to Worcester
Cathedral (i.e. monastery of Worcester) 3 hides "ruris silvatici" at Wuduceastre,
Uuduceastir or Uudecester. It is described as follows:

In oriente: Smieccumb: 3 furlongs due north of west "To the East Smoke? Combe".
Most likely the valley of the large stream which runs up from Nailsworth northwards to
meet the Frome near Rodborough village.

In austrum: Sentodleag et Heardanleag, Neglesleag minor totus UuidanCumb in
Carlesleage: "On the south (read Senop) the lea where mustard grows, and Hard Lea
and Lesser Nail's Lea, all Wide Combe to Carl's Lea." Wide Combe must have been the
valley through which the modern south boundary of Woodchester runs. Carlesleah must
have also have been on the southern boundary of the grant towards its west end.

In occidente: Haelsburg, Haboccumb (read Havoccumb) "On the west Hazel Barrow,
Hawkcombe". Havoc Cumb = ? combe 1 mile south of Leonard Stanley.

In aquilone: Iemyth Teag (read Gemythleag) "On the north the Lea of the Crossroads"
Must have been a lea where two roads met or crossed. ? one ridgeway coming SSW from
Selsley Common (OM1) and running along what is now a line of footpath over Down
(Bown) Hill (OM1). ? other following line of present road from North Woodchester
(OM1) which runs from east to west along the ridge on the north border of the parish i.e.
the lea must have been on the north slope of Down (Bown).

A.D. 756-96. Offa rules Mercia

A.D.865. Vikings start to invade England.

A.D.878. Danish army in Cirencester

A.D.896. The estate was in dispute and the matter was settled at a Council in Gloucester, in the presence of Earl Ethelred of Mercia, and an assembly of the great men of the kingdom.
...Earl Ethelred summoned together at Gloucester all the Mercian council, the bishops and all the earls and all his nobilty; and this he did with the cognisance and leave of King Alfred...Then Bishop Werferth informed the council that he had been robbed of nearly all the woodland belonging to Woodchester, which King Aethelbald had given to Worcester...then all the council
declared that justice should be done...and Ecglaf led Wulfhum along all the boundaries, as Wulfhun read out from the old charters, how they had been detirmined of old by the grant of King Aethelbald.

A.D.1016. Establishment of Gloucestershire, an area of 2,400 hides.

A.D. 1052. This year died Alfric, Archbishop of York, a very

pious man, and wise. And in the same year King Edward abolished

the tribute, which King Ethelred had before imposed: that was in

the nine-and-thirtieth year after he had begun it. That tax

distressed all the English nation during so long a time, as it

has been written; that was ever before other taxes which were

variously paid, and wherewith the people were manifestly

distressed. In the same year Eustace [Earl of Boulougne] landed

at Dover: he had King Edward's sister to wife. Then went his men

inconsiderately after quarters, and a certain man of the town

they slew; and another man of the town their companion; so that

there lay seven of his companions. And much harm was there done

on either side, by horse and also by weapons, until the people

gathered together: and then they fled away until they came to the

king at Gloucester; and he gave them protection. When Godwin,

the earl, understood that such things should have happened in his

earldom, then began he to gather together people over all his

earldom, (75) and Sweyn, the earl, his son, over his, and Harold,

his other son, over his earldom; and they all drew together in

Gloucestershire, at Langtree, a great force and countless, all

ready for battle against the king, unless Eustace were given up,

and his men placed in their hands, and also the Frenchmen who

were in the castle. This was done seven days before the latter

mass of St. Mary. Then was King Edward sitting at Gloucester.

Then sent he after Leofric the earl [Of Mercia] and north after

Siward the earl [Of Northumbria] and begged their forces. And

then they came to him; first with a moderate aid, but after they

knew how it was there, in the south, then sent they north over

all their earldoms, and caused to be ordered out a large force

for the help of their lord; and Ralph, also, over his earldom:

and then came they all to Gloucester to help the king, though it

might be late. Then were they all so united in opinion with the

king that they would have sought out Godwin's forces if the king

had so willed. Then thought some of them that it would be a

great folly that they should join battle; because there was

nearly all that was most noble in England in the two armies, and

they thought that they should expose the land to our foes, and

cause great destruction among ourselves. Then counselled they

that hostages should be given mutually; and they appointed a term

at London, and thither the people were ordered out over all this

north end, in Siward's earldom, and in Leofric's, and also

elsewhere; and Godwin, the earl, and his sons were to come there

with their defence. Then came they to Southwark, and a great

multitude with them, from Wessex; but his band continually

diminished the longer he stayed. And they exacted pledges for

the king from all the thanes who were under Harold, the earl, his

son; and then they outlawed Sweyn, the earl, his other son. Then

did it not suit him to come with a defence to meet the king, and

to meet the army which was with him. Then went he by night away;

and the king on the morrow held a council, and, together with all

the army, declared him an outlaw, him and all his sons. And he

went south to Thorney, and his wife, and Sweyn his son, and Tosty

and his wife, Baldwin's relation of Bruges, and Grith his son.

And Harold, the earl, and Leofwine, went to Bristol in the ship

which Sweyn, the earl, had before got ready for himself, and

provisioned. And the king sent Bishop Aldred [Of Worcester] to

London with a force; and they were to overtake him ere he came on

ship-board: but they could not or they would not. And he went

out from Avonmouth, and met with such heavy weather that he with

difficulty got away; and there he sustained much damage. Then

went he forth to Ireland when fit weather came. And Godwin, and

those who were with him, went from Thorney to Bruges, to

Baldwin's land, in one ship, with as much treasure as they might

therein best stow for each man. It would have seemed wondrous to

every man who was in England if any one before that had said that

it should end thus; for he had been erewhile to that degree

exalted, as if he ruled the king and all England; and his sons

were earls and the king's darlings, and his daughter wedded and

united to the king: she was brought to Wherwell, and they

delivered her to the abbess. Then, soon, came William, the earl

[Of Normandy], from beyond seas with a great band of Frenchmen;

and the king received him, and as many of his companions as it

pleased him; and let him away again. This same year was given to

William, the priest, the bishopric of London, which before had

been given to Sparhafoc.

The granting of the Manor of Udecester to his wife Gueda has the following story attached to it, (this version written around 1500.)

Berekley is a village near Severn, of the yearly value of five hundred pounds, in which was a nunnery governed by an abbess, that was both noble and beautiful. Earl Godwyn, a notable subtle man, not desiring her but her's, as he passed by, left his nephew, a young, proper, handsome spark, (under pretence of being seized with sickness) 'till he should return back thither, and instructed him to counterfiet an indisposition, 'till he had got all who came to visit him, both lady abbess and as many of the nuns he could with child. And to carry on the intrigue more plausibly, and more effectually to obtain the favour of their visits, the earl furnished him with rings and girdles, that by those presents he might the more readily corrupt and gain their inclinations.
There needed no great intreaty to persuade this young gallant to undertake an employment so amorous and pleasing. The way to distruction is easy and quickly learnt; he seemed wonderful cunning to himself, but all his cunning was but folly.
In him were concerted all those accomplishments that might captivate foolish and unthinking virgins; beauty, wit, riches and obliging mein: and he was mighty solicitous to have a private apartment to himself.
The devil therefore expelled Pallas, and brought in Venus; and converted the church of our saviour and his saints into an accursed pantheon, the temple into a stew, and the lambs into wolves.
When many of them proved with child, and the youth began to languish, being overcome with the excess and variety of pleasure, he hastened home with reports of his conquest (worthy to have the reward of iniquity) to his expecting lord.
The Earl immediatly addresses the king, and aquaints him, that the abbess and the nuns are with child, and had rendered themselves as prostitutes to all comers; all of which upon inquistion was found to be true.
Upon the expulsion of the nuns, he begs Berekely, and had it granted him by the King, and settled upon his wife Gueda; but (as the Domesday Book hath it) she refused to eat anything that came out of the manor, because of the destruction of the abbey: And, therefore he bought Udecestre for her maintenance, whilst she lived at Berkeley: Thus a conscientious mind can never relish ill gotten possessions.

A.D. 1053. In this year died Godwin, the earl, on the

seventeenth before the kalends of May, and he is buried at

Winchester, in the Old-minster; and Harold, the earl, his son,

succeeded to the earldom, and to all that which his father had

held: and Elgar, the earl, succeeded to the earldom which Harold

before

A.D. 1067. This year came the king back again to England on St.

Nicholas's day; and the same day was burned the church of Christ

at Canterbury. Bishop Wulfwy also died, and is buried at his see

in Dorchester. The child Edric and the Britons were unsettled

this year, and fought with the castlemen at Hereford, and did

them much harm. The king this year imposed a heavy guild on the

wretched people; but, notwithstanding, let his men always plunder

all the country that they went over; and then he marched to

Devonshire, and beset the city of Exeter eighteen days. There

were many of his army slain; out he had promised them well, and

performed ill; and the citizens surrendered the city because the

thanes had betrayed them. This summer the child Edgar departed,

with his mother Agatha, and his two sisters, Margaret and

Christina, and Merle-Sweyne, and many good men with them; and

came to Scotland under the protection of King Malcolm, who

entertained them all. Then began King Malcolm to yearn after the

child's sister, Margaret, to wife; but he and all his men long

refused; and she also herself was averse, and said that she would

neither have him nor any one else, if the Supreme Power would

grant, that she in her maidenhood might please the mighty Lord

with a carnal heart, in this short life, in pure continence. The

king, however, earnestly urged her brother, until he answered

Yea. And indeed he durst not otherwise; for they were come into

his kingdom. So that then it was fulfilled, as God had long ere

foreshowed; and else it could not be; as he himself saith in his

gospel: that "not even a sparrow on the ground may fall, without

his foreshowing." The prescient Creator wist long before what he

of her would have done; for that she should increase the glory of

God in this land, lead the king aright from the path of error,

bend him and his people together to a better way, and suppress

the bad customs which the nation formerly followed: all which she

afterwards did. The king therefore received her, though it was

against her will, and was pleased with her manners, and thanked

God, who in his might had given him such a match. He wisely

bethought himself, as he was a prudent man, and turned himself to

God, and renounced all impurity; accordingly, as the apostle

Paul, the teacher of all the gentries, saith: "Salvabitur vir

infidelis per mulierem fidelem; sic et mulier infidelis per virum

fidelem," etc.: that is in our language, "Full oft the

unbelieving husband is sanctified and healed through the

believing wife, and so belike the wife through the believing

husband." This queen aforesaid performed afterwards many useful

deeds in this land to the glory of God, and also in her royal

estate she well conducted herself, as her nature was. Of a

faithful and noble kin was she sprung. Her father was Edward

Etheling, son of King Edmund. Edmund was the son of Ethelred;

Ethelred the son of Edgar; Edgar the son of Edred; and so forth

in that royal line: and her maternal kindred goeth to the Emperor

Henry, who had the sovereignty over Rome. This year went out

Githa, Harold's mother, and the wives of many good men with her,

to the Flat-Holm, and there abode some time; and so departed

thence over sea to St. Omer's. This Easter came the king to

Winchester; and Easter was then on the tenth before the calends

of April. Soon after this came the Lady Matilda hither to this

land; and Archbishop Eldred hallowed her to queen at Westminster

on Whit Sunday. Then it was told the king, that the people in

the North had gathered themselves together, and would stand

against him if he came. Whereupon he went to Nottingham, and

wrought there a castle; and so advanced to York, and there

wrought two castles; and the same at Lincoln, and everywhere in

that quarter. Then Earl Gospatric and the best men went into

Scotland. Amidst this came one of Harold's sons from Ireland

with a naval force into the mouth of the Avon unawares, and

plundered soon over all that quarter; whence they went to

Bristol, and would have stormed the town; but the people bravely

withstood them. When they could gain nothing from the town, they

went to their ships with the booty which they had acquired by

plunder; and then they advanced upon Somersetshire, and there

went up; and Ednoth, master of the horse, fought with them; but

he was there slain, and many good men on either side; and those

that were left departed thence.

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