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Great Britain and Ereland.

20, HANOVER SQUARE, W.

Patron.

HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY THE KING.

President.

SIR HENRY H. HOWORTH, K.C.I.E., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A.

Honorary Vice-Presidents.

THE RIGHT HON. VISCOUNT DILLON, HON. M.A. OxoN., P.S.A.
THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD AVEBURY, F.R.S., F.S.A.

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All communications to be addressed to THE SECRETARY, Royal Archæological Institute, 20, Hanover Square, W.

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Any Member wishing to withdraw must signify his intention in writing previously to January 1 of the ensuing year, otherwise he will be considered liable to pay his subscription for that year.

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The Archeological Journal is delivered (free of postage) to all Members who are not in arrear of their Annual Subscription. No Journals will be issued to any Member in arrear for more than One Year's Subscription; after Two Years in arrear, the names of defaulters will be liable to be removed from the List of Members. In case of any accidental omission in delivery, Members are requested to write forthwith to the Secretary. For information respecting the sale of Journals and other Works published under the superintendence and sanction of the Council, see preceding page.

HARRISON AND SONS, PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HIS MAJESTY, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON.

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THE

(232)

Archaeological Journal,

PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF

THE COUNCIL

OF

The Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ereland,

FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND PROSECUTION OF

RESEARCHES INTO THE ARTS AND MONUMENTS

OF

The Early and Middle Ages.

VOLUME LVIII., No. 232.

SECOND SERIES, VOL. VIII., No. 4.

DECEMBER, 1901.

[Issued Quarterly to Members only.]

LONDON,

PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE OF THE INSTITUTE,
20, HANOVER SQUARE, W.

(DISTRIBUTED GRATUITOUSLY TO SUBSCRIBING MEMBERS.)

TO BE OBTAINED THROUGH ALL BOOKSELLERS.

MDCCCCI.

FROM THE ROYAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE,
20, Hanover Square, London, W.

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CONTENTS.

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE. BY EMANUEL GREEN, F.S.A.

A NOTE ON THE ARMS OF COLCHESTER AND NOTTINGHAM. By W. H. ST. J.
HOPE, M.A.

ON SAXON CHURCHES OF THE ST. PANCRAS TYPE. By C. R. PEERS, M.A., F.S.A.
WOLLATON AND HARDWICK HALLS. By J. A. GOTCH, F.S.A.

BALANCE SHEET.

PROCEEDINGS AT THE NOTTINGHAM MEETING.

PROCEEDINGS AT ORDINARY MEETINGS.

INDEX.

TITLE PAGE, CONTENTS, AND LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Communications respecting the Archaeological Journal should be addressed to the Secretary, Royal Archaeological Institute, 20, Hanover Square, London, W.

Are 125.4

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE.

By EMANUEL GREEN, F.S.A.

Standing on the castle rock on the highest point and looking northward as far as the eye can carry, on the left there is Peakland and on the extreme right the mouth of the Humber and the sea. An imaginary line drawn between these two points will fairly mark the boundary of the northern part of the early kingdom of Mercia, of which Nottingham from its situation was the chief centre. The Humber, convenient harbour for the natives, also by such convenience invited, as it were, a visit from neighbours over sea, as it does to-day. Thus it happened that from the coming of the Danes, those adventurous vikings, this whole district has now a very special historical interest. In 868 Danish forces came down from northward and attacked and took Nottingham, where they strengthened the fort and made the place their winter quarters. To account for so easy a victory, the new-comers, it must be remembered, were old warriors, sea rovers maybe, in good strength, well armed and equipped, desperate in their enterprise. They had already harassed the coast of France quite to the south and had often penetrated far inland. Their attack on England, however, resulted in conquest and settlement rather than loot. The Mercian king, with a sparse population quite unable to cope with his new neighbours, sent urgent requests for help to the western king Ethelred. Acceding readily, Ethelred, with his brother Alfred, then about twenty years of age, marched for Nottingham with a strong force eager for a fight, but on arriving he found the Danes had so strengthened their defences, and were so strong within their fort, that no entry could be gained. As they refused to come out to fight nothing could be done, so both sides "had recourse to fair words," a truce was accepted, a peace was concluded, and

the brothers who came to conquer returned with their troops defeated.1

By other attacks in the south, by the Thames, the Danes still further succeeded. They marched across and practically gained all England, except the west, which was now under Alfred. After trouble, doubt, and difficulty, after the events of Ethandun and Athelney, Alfred met Guthrum the Dane at Wedmore, and there, by the peace terms agreed upon, the Danes quitted all territory save the northern part of Mercia. Nottingham being within the retained boundary thus ceased to be English, and became absolutely and entirely Danish, the district being known as Danelegh or Danelaw. After this peace reigned, and the new-comers seem to have been of good metal, if we may judge by the settlements and the many homesteads with their place names bearing the familiar "thorpe," "holme," or " "by."

But Alfred and Guthrum being dead, their treaty had to be revised. In 922 Edward the elder, stronger in power, and determined to settle the question of suzerainty, marched into Mercia, where he met with no opposition, as all the people submitted to him. He took possession of Nottingham, ordered it to be repaired, and— be it noted-ordered it to be occupied both by English and by Danes. This little episode shows that the fusion or friendliness was already strong, that both parties-if there were two-were agreed on the wisdom of joining the predominant partner, and gives us just a little glance at the early making of England. It may account, too, for the very distinct local physiognomy of to-day.

3

In 924, being again with a force at Nottingham, Edward ordered the building of a new burgh or fort on the south side of the river, opposite an old burgh or mound, with a bridge to connect the two.* This gave the usual chance of exacting toll from passing boats.

Matters rested thus for nearly a century and a half. Nottingham fort remained probably without change, until the coming of a new master in 1068. In that year William of Normandy found it necessary to march

1 Florence of Worcester, Roger of Wendover, Ingulf, Gaimar, Asser, Henry of Huntingdon.

2 Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

3 Mathew of Westminster.
4 Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

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