@northages
Early medieval northern Britain, taking in Picts, Gaels, Britons, Angles and Norse. On this day, feast days, place-names, archaeology news and book releases. Posts by Dundonian bookworm Craig. https://northages.wordpress.com/
Mar 6: Feast of Balthere (Baldred) (†756). Anchorite from Lindisfarne linked with Lothian sites Aldham (Auldhame), whose monastic community he may have founded; the Bass Rock, his likely retreat; and Tinangeham (Tyninghame), whose religious centre eclipsed Aldham by mid-10thC. #medievalsky
The page that bears the exquisitely illuminated chi-rho, a monogram used to symbolize the name of Christ.
Mar 6: Feast of Billfrith (Billfrid), 8thC hermit and goldsmith who adorned the binding on the Lindisfarne Gospels, as the inscription in it states, with gold, silver and gems. The book survives, but the precious binding is lost. #medievalsky
Castor St Kyneburgha, with its tall tower, graveyard and trees in the background.
Mar 6: Feast of Cyneburg (†680), daughter of Penda, pagan king of the Mercians. She married Alhfrith, sub-king of the Deirans. Some years later, she founded the convent of Castor, Peterborough, where her sister Cyneswith succeeded her as abbess. Castor St Kyneburgha 📸Peter Wood #medievalsky
The Anglo-Saxon gold-and-garnet cloisonné panel, which perhaps formed part of a larger composite object.
An Anglo-Saxon gold-and-garnet cloisonné panel was found by a detectorist near Pocklington, East Yorkshire, #OTD in 2013. 📸Portable Antiquities Scheme #medievalsky
My daughter was sent home from World Book Day because she’s had her appendix removed
The bejewelled binding of the gospel-book, which also bears cast figures representing Christ in Majesty and the Crucifixion.
Judith, countess of Flanders, died #OTD in 1094. She was widowed when Tostig, earl of Northumbria, died at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Symeon of Durham says she 'loved St Cuthbert even more than did her husband'. One of Judith's gospel-books 📸The Morgan Library & Museum #medievalsky
The 2026 Viking Society for Northern Research student conference takes place at the University of Liverpool on 11 April. Includes student lectures, launch of the paperback 'Embers of the Hands' by Dr Eleanor Barraclough & plenary lecture by Prof Howard Williams @archaeodeathprof.bsky.social
The crypt beneath St Mary's Church, Lastingham.
Mar 4: Feast of Owine (7thC), monk. He was born in East Anglia, became head of Æthelthryth’s household and went with her when she wed Ecgfrith of Northumbria. Owine later joined the monastery at Lestingeham (Lastingham, North Yorkshire) under Ceadda (Chad). 📸Helge Klaus Rieder #medievalsky
A view towards the altar inside Hexham Abbey.
Canons of Hexham Priory translated the relics of some of its saints to a space by the altar #OTD in 1154. The remains of Acca, Alchmund, Frithuberht and Tilberht were placed in a shrine coated with silver and gold and studded with gems. Eata was placed in another. 📸Paul Turner #medievalsky
Aerial view of Tresness & Cata Sand, Orkney.
Radulf was consecrated as bishop of Orkney by Thomas I, archbishop of York, in the city #OTD in 1073. 📸Julian Paren #medievalsky
Iona Abbey between hills in the background and the sea in the foreground.
Mar 2: Feast of Sléibíne mac Congaile (†767), abbot of Iona. He enforced the Law of Colum Cille in Ireland in 757, which probably involved the formal bearing of the saint's relics on circuit in association with the collection of tax. Suibne succeeded him. 📸August Schwerdfeger #medievalsky
The crypt beneath St Mary's Church, Lastingham.
Mar 2: Feast of Ceadda (Chad) (†672). He enjoyed spells as abbot of Lestingeham (Lastingham, North Yorkshire), pictured, and bishop of the Northumbrians. Around 669, he became bishop of the Mercians with a see at Licitfelda (Lichfield, Staffordshire). 📸Helge Klaus Rieder #medievalsky
Iona Abbey between hills in the background and the sea in the foreground.
Mar 2: Feast of Fergnae (Virgno) the Briton (†623), last abbot of Iona who was a monk while Columba was alive. One night, as a monk, Fergnae reportedly saw the church fill with a heavenly light when Columba entered to pray. Ségéne mac Fiachna succeeded him. 📸August Schwerdfeger #medievalsky
Starmer's ability to find the exact sweetspot which pisses off everyone is extraordinary. He's a savant.
St Suitbertus church in Kaiserswerth, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Mar 1: Feast of Swithberht (Suidberct) (†713), bishop. Missionary among the Frisians whom Bishop Wilfrid consecrated while the latter was in exile in Mercia. Swithberht founded a monastery at Werth (Kaiserswerth, Düsseldorf), where his relics are still honoured. 📸Till Niermann #medievalsky
St Marnan's Episcopal Church flanked by trees in Aberchirder.
Mar 1: Feast of Marnan (Marnoch) (7thC), bishop. The Aberdeen Breviary says he was buried at Aberchirder, near Banff, which became a pilgrimage place. The water in which his head was washed weekly was used for healing. Oaths were also sworn before the head. 📸Bill Harrison #medievalsky
New dating of Buckquoy dispels Viking story the-past.com/news/new-dat...
Thatched wooden houses huddled together in an artist's impression of 10th-century York.
Feb 28: Feast of Oswald (†992), bishop of Worcester from 961 and archbishop of York from 971. Important figure in the 10thC Benedictine reform movement. After Oswald's death, Ealdwulf (†1002) would also go on to hold Worcester and York in plurality. 📸York Archaeological Trust #medievalsky
Hilton of Cadboll - replica Pictish stone by an ancient chapel site that was used for the burial of unbaptised infants and suicide victims upto the 18th century. This is a fascinating stone for its central depiction of a woman. Original in National Museum #Scotland #medievalsky #archaeology
I wrote an accessible summary of some of our recent work for the online Dutch Celtic Studies publication Kelten. You can read it here!
kelten.vanhamel.nl/k-jaarboek-2...
The first 💯 tickets went in just three days! 🤗 Get yours while you can, folks!
And remember: attendance is free, there’ll be a reception afterwards, and everyone‘s welcome!
Uncover the extraordinary results of archaeological investigations at Rendlesham, Suffolk, which offer new perspectives on early English society and the origins of the English kingdoms. Pre-order your copy of this royally good read ➡️ bit.ly/4bareyK
The Pictish stone lying on its side on the ground.
A 6ft-tall Pictish stone was discovered by Moray man Wayne Miles near Elgin #OTD in 2019. It had been discarded by workers constructing the Barmuckity Business Park, and bears the symbols a notched rectangle and Z-rod beneath an eagle. #medievalsky
Iona Abbey between hills in the background and the sea in the foreground.
Feb 24: Feast of Cumméne Find, ‘the White’, (†669), abbot of Iona. He was said to have written a book about Columba’s miraculous powers. His abbacy coincided with the Synod of Whitby in 664. Faílbe mac Pípáin succeeded him. 📸August Schwerdfeger #medievalsky
This has been a slog but I’m pleased to day that I’m currently checking the proofs, which means this book will soon be out in the wild!
A stretch of the stream spanned by a stone bridge.
Caldbeck, Cumbria. Caldebek 11thC. ‘Cold stream’. Old Scandinavian kaldr + bekkr. Source: Oxford Dictionary of British #PlaceNames. 📸Les Hull #medievalsky
Proceedings of the 40th Interdisciplinary Viking Symposium - 3 May 2023 in Odense:
”Travelling Viking Age”
museumodense.dk/wp-content/u...
A stone high cross carved with figurative artwork depicting biblical scenes
The South Cross at Kells is also known as the Cross of St Patrick and St Columba, as it bears a Latin inscription dedicating it to the two saints.
Dating to c.900AD, it is a fine example of an early Irish high cross, intricately decorated with scenes from the Old and New Testament.
#Ireland
The cheeky, red-haired, underage drinker from Hot Fuzz.
Happy Birthday to this icon.
A miniature of John the Evangelist facing the start of his gospel.
Feb 22: Feast of Máel Brigte mac Tornáin (†927), abbot of Armagh and Iona. He gave his name to the MacDurnan Gospels, a 9thC pocket gospel-book gifted to King Æthelstan (†939). Ioseph mac Fataig succeeded him at Armagh, Dubthach mac Dubáin at Iona. 📸Lambeth Palace Library #medievalsky