| Summary : A minster or monastery at Icanho or Ikanho, in East Anglia, (probably now Iken, Suffolk, although an alternative suggestion for the site is near Boston), was built by St Botolph in 653-4, destroyed circa 870. Messent states that the site is in a meadow to the north of Iken Church (St. Botolph's) where slight foundations may be traced, and quantities of reused material can be seen in farm premises and walls in the vicinity. |
More information : (TM 412567) A Benedictine monastery at Icanho or Ikanho, in East Anglia probably now Iken, Suffolk although suggested by Authy 3 to be near Boston, Lincs, was built by St Botolph in 653-4, dissolved circa 870. Messent states that the site is in a meadow to the north of Iken Church (St. Botolph's) where slight foundations may be traced, and quantities of reused material can be seen in farm premises and walls in the vicinity. (1-3)
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 dedicatin to St Botolph and the suggestive grant of the manor
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.
For alternative site at Hadstock see TL 54 SE 3. (4)
A late C9- early C10 cross-shaft was found built into St Botolph's church (TL 45 NW 12). Excavation around the churches' north wall revealed a Saxon timber building and burials. These may be part of the monastery of Icanho. (5) |