Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-01-16
THE CURIOUS SAXON RE.
MAINS.
A Visit to King Alfred's Saxon
Palace at Mudgeley.

|
A London letter to the Newark AdrsT-
fiser says:
The other day paid visit to the
ruins of an old palace about two miles
from the little village Of Theale, and
eight from the Cathedral City Of Wells,
Somerset. 1t bears the name Of Court
Farm, or Palace Garden. L stumbled
upon it quite accidentally in a narrow
lane which faces the palace inclosure
opposite an old Saxon well. As it is
very improbable that many of the read
ers of the Daily have heard anything
about this old-fashioned spot I propose
to give a few particulars that have
gathered respecting it.
1 found the foundation of the said
palace facing the east, covering the
greater part of the entire field, now
used as sheep pasture, and running
north and southwark for about eighty
yards square, which was probably the
outer walls of the great Saxon hall, and
to the right, near an orchard, the Kings
fish pond, the royal apartments occu-
pying about forty yards by sixty on the
right of the great hall. Though the
walls have been long since leveled, the
foundations still show through the long
years, and many large stones still lie
about the north ditch, showing that
they must have been not only lofty, for
such great structure, but at last ak
yards in thickness. Here in this place
very old history records the fact that
King Alfred had summer palace and
used to sail across the sea arm or mere
in his little skiff or bark, from his royal
fort at Athelney,to catch wild fowl and
to fish, and in this very palace, after the
ceremony of baptism at Aller was over,
and Guthrum the Dane had been con-
firmed in the rites of Christian baptism
and the Christian clothes had been ia
ken off, and removed the body of the
converted pagan Dane at Wedmore
Church, we read that King Alfred en-
tertained the Danish chief with feast
ings and great rejoicing at his summer
palace for ten days at Mudgeley.
This is one of the most interesting
spots in England for the lover of Sax
on history. Some years ago few Ia
borers were employed in carting away
a portion of the west outer wall next
the cave in order to mend the roads
with old materials, when out rolled a
silver spoon of Saxon manufacture,
having the private mark upon it of the
Kings own jeweler, small star, an
emblem so much used not only in the
decorations of the gilt roof, the south
aisle of the Saxon Church at Wedmore,
but also in King Ina's Church at Wells
in 7O4, as may be seen also upon the
ancient clock, brought over from the
neighboring abbey of Glastonbury, in
the north aisle. As soon as this valud-
BILE relic came to light, Immediately
there was a squabble among the work
men, and there would have been fight
if the Rev. T. Williamson, Vicar of
Theale, had not been on the spot, who,
in order to save and preserve the pre-
eious relic from being drunk away in
beer house, melted, or sent to my
nncle'' for loan, Immediately pur-
chased it for sovereign, and a most
handsome pattern it is. Aweek or two
back Mr.. John Mellor, the Alfred his
torian, dug out of the northern en-
bankment belonging to the palace a
portion of a reflex Danish sword blade
and rude iron leg shackle or bucket
handle. Also, a Saxon drinking cup OF
great age, at some considerable depth.
Upon it we're two handles TO pass it
from mouth to mouth and from hand to
hand. and also several little yellow
flowers. for in this castle or Saxon pal
ace King Alfred, it is said, had 800
troops or Saxon soldiers. The cup is
about five and half inches in diameter
at the outer rim, and the belly IS nat;
also the bottom likewise. The whole Is
of dark brown, neatly polished and
glazed, and it has dotted rim OF a
tawny grayish pattern. 1t is hard
baked, aud so very old that the pottery
vein is cracked in all directions, as If It
was going to fall to pieces, though Mr..
Mellor had the good fortune to get 1t
out of the earth entire.
The place is situated in a glorious spot
as regards scenery, overlooking the vii
iage of Mere, the Abott's house and
the entire valley of the Mendips, at
the foot of which are the fruitful lands,
now drained, where once, in King Al
fred's days (ss0,l the sea tide rolled up
alternately every twelve hours and
formed sort of resplendent lake, even
at low water, always covered with plen-
ty of water fowl and wild ducks, which
glided in and out amongst the green
aIders. rushes and willows which lined
the waters edge, and no doubt the time
of Guthrum's eonversion-S76 to SS4-
King Alfred, when his monastery at
Athelney was completed, often enjoyed
a quiet sail on the beautiful lake or sea
arm when not at war with the Danes,
especially the last three years of his
life, when he had peace from his enc
mics. The sea having long since re-
treate,,, the whole valley has been
drained. The teeth of sharks have been
found in Wackey Hole, teStifying to the
sea having once come up as far as Glas-
tonbury, and whose famous Abbey L
propose to describe in future letter.
The vicar of Theale has choice collec-
ton of bones of elephants hyenas and
bears teeth, he found at the mouth oil
Wookey cavern, near Wells, and also
some silver coins of King Canut, Har-
old Harefoot, Edward, Julius Cesar,
and other valuable Saxon and Roman
coins, about peek of which said silver
coins were discovered in some Saxon
graves i'm wedmore churchyard.
Forgetful.