After the hectic social calendar of July with Village Day (report and photos in this month’s Herald) and the Village Show, August is fairly quiet.
But there’s a beer festival at the Plough and Fleece (starts tonight Weds 29th July) and their Garden party this coming Saturday (1st August!).
Next month sees a resumption of a hectic event calendar with the 16th Apple Pressing day and a weekend of Viking invaders! Full details inside. Also see a story by Molly Marshall on the viking invasion of Horningsea in 870!
Enjoy the summer weather, although spare a thought for our farmers struggling with the harvest from that dry soil (amongst other issues!).
Like a fine wine, it could be said that Horningsea Village Day gets better and better. Against the backdrop of a beautiful summer’s day and a parched but bucolic village green, Horningsea’s Residents’ Association sprang into action yet again this year with the obligatory bouncy castles, coconut shy, old bangers and Vee’s Teas. Always a well-attended event, young and old turned out to enjoy this very jovial and easy-going event where a couple of barrels from our ever-supportive local pubs or a cuppa and cake helped to grease the wheels and ease everyone into a thoroughly entertaining afternoon and evening.
The 4th July country-themed music provided by a number of local acts culminated in an excellent display of line-dancing noted by some to be more popular amongst the ladies of the village than the men. It did require a good deal of concentration and maybe the barrels of beer were to blame for that!
The rich cultural tapestry of our village was represented further by one of the Horningsea art groups which displayed some examples of their work for the first time prompting many to comment on what a rich, diverse and talented community we live in.
Horningsea Art Group
Finally, congratulations to Anna who won this year’s Knobbly Knee Competition as judged by Sebby, and congratulations to the Residents’ Association (HRA) and all those who helped make this yet another very successful village event!
Viking raiders (Grantanbrycg) are coming to Horningsea. They will row up The Cam in their longboat, The Bear, and camp on Church End Field, between the Church and the river. On each day between 10.00 and 18.00 there will be Living History displays – axe throwing, horn carving, eel catching, cooking Viking food, playing Viking board games, weaving, calligraphy … expect some skirmishes, and during the afternoon the Vikings will “rampage around the church” as they did in the year 870!
Viking arts and crafts
Meanwhile, Longboat will be rowed up and down stream between about 11.00 and 12 noon each day.
Grantanbrycg re-enacting a Viking battle
The best place to see it will be from the tow path or from Dock Lane, St John’s Lane, bottom of Laney Meadow or Church End Field. If you plan to watch the Longboat from your own boat on the river please contact Suzanna Watson so she can monitor the craft and make sure everyone keeps safe. If you live outside the village please avoid coming by car as there is very limited parking. Catch the C100 bus from Waterbeach or Fen Ditton, or cycle!
You might like to know that the longboat, the Bear, featured in the film “How to train your dragon!”.
One thousand one hundred and twenty four years ago (now 1,156 years!) this summer season, Horningsea underwent one of the most frightening episodes in its long history. We owe so much to the contemporary chroniclers who gave details, if sometimes annoyingly vague, of past events – by which we can catch a glimpse of life as it was, in those distant times. In this case we owe our historical knowledge of this village and this church to the Ely chronicle, known as the Liber Eliensis – the Book of Ely. From this book we learn that in Horningsea in the 9th century there was a monastery under Royal Patronage, with a sizeable community of Monks. “Not a small community of clergy” is the exact translation from the Ely Chronicle. How many? 15 -20? Perhaps more? But the text goes on to tell us that ” the name of the priest-in-charge was Cenwold”. The Minster – a church both of a monastery and a parish stood on _this spot, surrounded by the numerous monastic buildings. The actual village settlements was near where nowadays Eye Hall stands. All traffic came by river – the Dock was the arrival point for all visitors.
Grantanbrycg: Viking re-enactment
At this time Danish warriors frequently crossed the North Sea in their Longboats during the summer months, looting, burning and spreading terror and devastation, down all the eastern side of Britain. The City of York fell to the Viking invaders in 867. According to the Ely Chronicle in the year 870 it was to our area of East Anglia that they came sailing over the sea and rowing up the river. Any settlement on a riverside site must have known of this ever-recurring danger – as indeed Cenwold and his fellow clergy must have realised – perhaps they hid some of the church’s best silver and gold “ornamenta”, the collective name for Church plate.
Anyhow – perhaps it came to pass in the following manner:
One warm, dark summer night in that year 870 disastrous for so many religious establishments throughout Anglo-Saxon Britain. The first noticeable sound would have been the splash of so many oars approaching the Dock – then the Longboats drew in towards the landing stage – landing planks pushed out from the decks, to enable the crews of perhaps 50 – 70 warriors to creep ashore, battle axes, swords and short throwing lances were handed out from the arm’s chest.
At a sign of command from their chieftain, they advanced in silence up the slope towards the monastic buildings and the church – lighted torches were then handed out – and then the leader, yelling blood chilling Norse battle cries, burst into the dim cool church. Shouts and blows and clashing of axes and swords rang out, as the looters hacked open chests, tore down altar-hangings and richly gilded lamps – herding all their booty onto the rush strewn floor ready to bear off to their Longboats.
Once they reached these boats there were their big cauldrons ready to cook feasts of stolen ox or sheep – big leather bags to fill with gold and silver objects – and big casks of ale to complete requirements for a festive triumphant barbecue. They might even have danced their famous Norse sword dance – with a singer chanting verses to celebrate victory!
This however you must realise is just a possible incident – what the chronicle does tell us is that “some of the pagans did then accept Christianity and were baptised”!
Again no information as to how many of them and when this commendable conversion came to pass! Did Cenwold the priest instruct and baptise these Danish Vikings in the old church once standing on this spot, or what was left of it after the visitors of 870?
All the chronicle goes on to tell us is that these Danes _gave _the monastery of Horningsea 7 hydes of land, two of these hydes were for the village of Eye. The Hyde was in size 240 acres, so the community’s share of 5 hydes was a gift of 1200 acres! Gratitude to God and the monks for their conversion? Or a deep feeling of guilt?
Whatever their intention at that time, in the end those hydes caused so much strife and trouble, involving the monks and villagers, Abbots, Bishops, even the military – indirectly probably causing the final extinction 100 years later of the Monastery of St Peter Horningsea – leaving for the future just a beautiful parish church!
A Discussion in the style of Radio 4’s “In Our Time”. Three professors will discuss the history of the Saxon Minster at Horningsea and the Viking Raid of 870. Moderated by Reverend Canon Nick Moir
Rosalind Love, Elrington & Bosworth Professor of Anglo Saxon
Rory Naismith, Professor of Early Medieval English History
Lesley Abrams, Emeritus Professor of Early Medieval History, University of Oxford
Village Day will be jam packed, with live music from 15:30 and line dancing in the evening. There will be vintage vehicles (including a fire engine), multiple bouncy castles, many stalls, “sports day” and much more. You will be sustained by ice cream and BBQ and refreshed by beer from our two wonderful pubs.
Our wonderful Horningsea Horticultural Show is now in its 70th year with its categories of vegetables, home produce, baking, flower arranging, arts and crafts. Download the entry form from the village website if one was not put through your letterbox. There’s an update on the church restoration and the restoration of our phone box too!
The Plough and Fleece are also having a Garden Party and Beer Festival on the 1st August!
Get ready for an action packed day of fun for all on the Village Green with line dancing, music and traditional village favourites with an American twist!
15:00 Kick off on the Village Green
Live Country music during the afternoon from Tom Donaldson and also the ‘Sure-can Playboys’ band and if you still have the energy after the line dancing has finished they’ll be a disco.
Whether you’re trying your hand at line dancing, tackling the assault course, admiring the vintage cars, enjoying gluten free doughnuts or relaxing with tea and homemade cake there’s something for everyone!
Vee’s tea and cake served from 15:00
Delicious gluten free doughnuts from Fen Family Kitchen
American style hot dogs
Live music throughout the afternoon
Vintage American Hot Rod car show
Bouncy castle for the little ones
Inflatable assault course for the bigger ones
Vintage fire truck with hose spraying and water fun
Tug of War and other village games
Hudson’s Timber stall
Coconut shy
Art stall
Tombola
Ice creams
Water stocks – come soak yer dad
Beer courtesy of our wonderful village pubs
the Plough and Fleece
the Crown and Punchbowl
The BBQ will be lit for you to cook your own food or bring a picnic.
Replacement of Victorian floorboards and new safety features will improve service to the community, including local events and worship
St Peter’s Church, Horningsea, which is one of Cambridgeshire’s oldest places of worship, is pleased to announce over £104,000 in recent grant funding for major restoration work. The project, to be completed over the next three months, will see rotten Victorian floorboards replaced and making the historic church tower safe for future generations. This includes critical funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Golden Bottle Trust, and the Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers Bell Restoration Fund.
North aisle floor before removal
St Peter’s — From Vikings and Saxons, To Today
St Peter’s Church, Horningsea, is of uncertain origin. Documentary evidence points to the existence of a Saxon Minster on the site prior to 870 AD. The church’s current fabric includes pillars, a porch, doorways, a font, and a tower, all dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. The oldest surviving artefacts are tomb lids from the 10th century. Victorian-era works included the reconstruction of the north wall and aisle, and the laying of floorboards. Those floorboards, now approximately 140 years old, have substantially deteriorated and require replacement.
Ongoing restoration work to the floor
“St Peter’s Church Council is so grateful to everyone who has contributed to providing these funds: National Lottery players, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for awarding the grant; the Diocesan Bell Ringers; the Golden Bottle Trust; the Friends of Horningsea Church, those who worked so hard and organised fundraising concerts and exhibitions. We will no longer have to worry about someone tumbling down from the tower or their foot falling through the floor.” — Reverend Canon Nick Moir, Vicar of St Peter’s Church, Horningsea
Pre-restoration Celebrations and Community Events
Before work began, the Friends of Horningsea Church hosted a singing, dancing, and picnic event for younger members of the local community — the future custodians of the church. The Cambridge City Young Bellringers arrived by boat the same day in order to ring the bells before they fell silent during construction. The group will be invited back for a special bell-ringing celebration and open event once the project is complete.
Ringing the bells for the last time before the work
Throughout the period of the upcoming works, celebrations of Horningsea’s heritage will continue. An exhibition — 1766 and All That — is planned for the end of June, showcasing an altar cloth embroidered in 1766.
Bellringers arriving by narrowboat
In September, following completion of the project, there will be a re-enactment of the Viking raid of 870 AD, with longboats arriving by river. Further details will be announced closer to the events — stay tuned!
