Introduction
to ‘This is the Thyng’
In
2005/6 local history enthusiasts rediscovered the Old English name of Hanger
Hill Thynghowe (= assembly + bronze age burial site) which had been used for
public meetings until the 1800s. With the hills original name together with its
location within Birklands, OE Birkelunde
(= sacred grove with birch trees) the significance of the site became a no brainer. The
site is now controlled by English Heritage and represents the only intact Thyng
left in England.
This is the Thyng
Birklands Wapentake, in Nottinghamshire,
Name
of sacred hill, It did disappear.
Birkelunde
it hid, from the Doomsday Book,
Its
secret Thynghowe, to shadows it took.
Bronze
age barrow site, its meaning mislaid,
For
many years more, folk met on its glade.
In
Sherwood Forest, was grove with birch trees,
But
its name Thynghowe, did locals displease.
In
green wood clearing, godly worship planned,
Ancient
sacred site, with rune sword in hand.
Wapentakes to meet, site for council
things,
A show of weapons, vote
with lords and kings.
Marker
standing stone, on old maps was named,
Still
used as a thyng, this meet place was famed.
Sacred
name lost in, recent mists of time,
Gatherings
no more, folk no longer climb.
Thynghowe
used as meet, for two thousand years,
But
Viking elders, it no longer hears.
This
Birkelunde hill, much time did withstand,
Thynghowe
is the last, intact thing in our land.
Copyright Andrew Rea March 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment