More information : (TL 55884474) St Botolph's Church (NAT) (1)
Important late Anglo-Saxon church built about 1025-50 with later additions (see plans). It probably had a central tower which was pulled or fell down about 1200 and there is Roman brick in the tower walls. Belonging to Ely (from the 9th century) whose monks believed St Botolph was buried here. It is suggested that it is the minster built by King Cnut in 1020 to commemorate his victory in 1016 at Assandun (Ashdon beside Hadstock), but others identify it as Ashingdon (see TQ 89 SE 1), and some suggest the minister was Hockley near-by. (2-5)
Excavations within the church in 1974 revealed three periods of Anglo-Saxon work, the earliest of which probably belongs to the pre-Danish era and comprised a large five celled cruciform church. Among graves found was one set in the centre of the Anglo-Saxon south porticus against the east wall, the body was probably embalmed and can hardly have been other than an eminent religious figure of the Anglo-Saxon period, possibly
Abbott Botolph.
This new evidence greatly strengthens the case for Hadstock being the site of the monastery founded in the late 7th century by St Botolph at Icanho. (For alternative siting see TM 45 NW 10). Finds of earlier date comprised animal bones, oyster shells, a few chips of Roman tile, sherds of Roman pottery, one sherd of the pagan Saxon period; and a group of stones perhaps a hearth, included part of a quern of Rhenish lava and a stone Cresset lamp. (6)
Thus there are three places that could claim to be Icanho, excluding Boston in Lincolnshire which now seems to be out of the running (Whitelock et al. 1961, 20): Hadstock, Grundisburgh/Burgh, and Iken. Hadstock and Grundisburgh/Burgh both have dedications to St. Botolph and both have twelfth-century documents to back their claims. Iken however has similarity of name, the right topographical situation and location in the East Anglian Kingdom, a dedication to St. Botolph and the suggestive grant of the manor of Sudbourne, including Iken, to St Aethelwold, who was also granted the remains of St. Botolph; taken altogether these pieces of evidence argue strongly that St.Botolph's monastery was situated at Iken in Suffolk. (7)
St Botolph's Church (name confirmed) is generally as described by the previous authorities and the attached guide. The excavations, (still partly exposed) have been concluded. See photographs of north door and base of crossing pier. A random scatter of probably Roman brick can be seen in the lower courses of the tower. (8)
The investigations during restoration of the tower showed it to be a late Medieval addition to the Anglo-Saxon nave, replacing all earlier fabric at the west end, and making extensive re-use of earlier materials. (9)
Church of St. Botolph, Grade 1. The walls of the present nave and north transept are basically of late Anglo Saxon date and there is evidence to suggest that this was the minster church built by Canute after the battle of Assandan in 1016. Grade I (see list for details). (10)
See TQ 89 SE 1 for a discussion of the controversy over Ashdon/Ashington as the site of the battle between Canute and Edmund and of Canute's "mynster" to commemorate his
victory. The Anglo Saxon Chronicle distinctly states that Canute went to Assington itself to erect his minster, and not to a place nearby, as in the proposed case of Ashdon/
Hadstock. (11)
Additional bibliography. (12-17)
Full description of the Saxon doorway in the north side of the nave, and the arch opening to the south porticus, which are more firmly dated to 1030-1050. (18) |