Saxon life in South Essex, UK.

Palaeo/Meso Neo Bronze Iron Roman Med Post-med
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The Saxons (440 - 1066 AD)

The Saxon settlement, which began in the early 5th century, eventually gave Essex its name - the land of the east Saxons. Saxon settlement evidence is particularly prolific in south Essex.

Some of the most remarkable finds were recovered from a cemetery revealed by gravel digging at Rainham in the 1930's, finds included spears, shield bosses and two extraordinary glass drinking horns.

Another cemetery at Prittlewell excavated in the 1920's produced a wide variety of grave goods including swords, shield bosses, spears, buckles, brooches knives, pottery and a glass jar. Two wheel thrown pots were imported from the Frankish kingdom (modern France).

Elaborate garnet enlayed pendants and brooches show strong similarities with jewellery found in Kent.

All of the swords were 'pattern welded' the blades were made of seperate bars of metal twisted and forged together to add strength to the blade, and giving the polished surface of the sword a swirling pattern - hence the name.

Once again the excavations at Mucking have yielded some of the best evidence in south Essex. Here not one but two cemeteries were excavated and the largest had over 750 burials. As is quite common with early Saxon cemeteries the burials were a mixture of cremations and inhumations. Just over 60 burials were excavated in the second cemetery. At Mucking the settlements of the people who had been buried in the cemeteries were also excavated.

Over 250 buildings were recorded, around 50 of these buidings were rectangular 'halls' built around substantial timber uprights. The other structures were what are known as sunken featured buildings, these were built around a large rectangular pit with a rather tent like structure supported on a ridge pole set between two upright posts. Some of these sunken featured buildings seem to have had a plank floor suspended above the pit in other cases the bottom of the pit itself may have been the floor of the building. These sunken featured buildings have been recorded throughout south Essex, at Linford, Orsett, Barling, Fox Hall Farm near Southend and at many other places.

As with earlier periods, loomweights and spindle whorls indicate the importance of cloth production from wool. There is good evidence of iron working exploiting bog ores and ironstone from the gravels. Material recovered from the Mucking excavations indicates that both smithing and smelting were taking place.

The early Saxon settlers were pagan, hence the remarkable range of grave goods included in their burials. These objects were intended to equip the individual for the after life. The place name Thundersley reflects this, the name is derived from 'woodland clearing dedicated to Thunor' Thunor being the Saxon version of the god better known by his Viking name Thor.

From the 7th century onward the Saxons were converted to Christianity, perhaps the best known survival of this period lies just to the north, St. Peter's church at Bradwell. The chancel of the church at Prittlewell has part of a 7th century arch preserved in its north wall, indicating the presence of an early church. The organisation of the church during the Saxon period was based on Minister churches which, served large areas that were later split up into smaller parishes.

The name Upminster records the location of one of these Minster churches, another existed at Great Wakering. Recent excavations in advance of a churchyard extension at Great Wakering revealed dramatic evidence of the importance of this location in the later Saxon period in the form of this elaborately carved fragment of limestone.

A major monastery was established at Barking and excavations there have revealed indications of the wealth of this establishment including evidence of glass production.

In the later Saxon period the Thames and the other creeks and estuaries gave easy access to Viking invaders. In ninth century AD the Vikings used Shoebury and Benfleet as bases and were defeated in a major battle at Benfleet. The battle of 'Assandune' fought in 1016 eventually led to the Danish leader Canute becoming king of England might have been fought near Ashingdon just south of the Crouch, although many people think that the battle took place near Ashdon in north Essex.

The Viking wars have left few archaeological remains. What might have been a Viking burial was uncovered during building work at Leigh on Sea and charred timbers from Viking ships burnt after the battle of Benfleet were said to have been found when the Railway was built in the 19th century.

Harold the last king of Saxon England held large estates in Essex and is said to have been buried at Waltham Abbey.