NHER 10451 (Monument record) - Possible site of Saxon church, Seething

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Summary

A monument stands here, on the supposed site of the former Saxon church of Seething. It resembles a huge church pinnacle set on a square brick base, but was probably purpose made. There are two inscription plaques; the only words that could be made out were ‘Erected....AD....58’. It is possible that a church did once stand here as the Domesday Book does mention two churches in Seething and there are reports that human remains have been unearthed in this area.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TM39NW
Civil Parish SEETHING, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Map

'Monument on site of church' - Ordnance Survey.
'?Medieval skulls WBM' marked on NCM maps.
Domesday Book refers to two churches at Seething.
(S1) states only that the missing church 'had saxon origins'.
(S2) states that it was destroyed by the Danes in 584(!) and that human skeletons 'have been found nearby'.
The monument gives no information as it is a plain obelisk with no inscription - information from J. J. Wymer (NAU).
E. Rose (NAU) 3 January 1985.

Appropriate section from reference (S3) in file.

However, [1] states that the monument does have very faint inscriptions, now illegible, which seem to have been reused from an older version.
E. Rose (NLA) 22 January 2002.

The monument stands on one of two hillocks separated by a deep hollow way. It resembles a huge church pinnacle set on a square brick base, but was probably purpose made. There are two inscription plaques; the only words that could be made out were "Erected....AD....58".
E. Rose (NLA) 9 March 2002.

  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Seething.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TM 39 NW 12.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Publication: Messent, C. J. W. 1931. The Ruined Churches of Norfolk.
  • <S2> Serial: Bryant, T. H. 1900. Norfolk Churches. Hundred of Loddon.
  • <S3> Monograph: Batcock, N. 1991. The Ruined and Disused Churches of Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 51. Microfiche 5:G12. No 210; p 54.
  • HUMAN REMAINS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HUMAN REMAINS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Jul 20 2016 8:41AM

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