Monday Lunctime Talk
📅 Date: Monday 9th March 2026
🕑 Midday for 12:30 start
📍 RAFA Club, Waterloo Square
💷 £5 Members/ £8 Non Members
by John Parsons
Discover the Anglo-Saxon origins of Bognor in this fascinating short story, followed by an interactive Q&A session and a lively discussion on the relevance of Anglo-Saxon culture today.
All are welcome – come and join us!
Mon 13 Oct 25
By Email
Hi Marion
It was nice to meet you today.
I’ve put the date in my diary.
The talk lasts for 30-45 minutes and covers:
- the origins of Bognor in 680 AD, the first Kings/Chieftans of Sussex and Bucge, the founder of the settlement. (7-10mins)
- Status hierarchy from kings to slaves (7-10mins)
- a broad description of Anglo Saxon life inc culture, beliefs, language, art and daily routines (7-10 mins)
- Comparison and contrasts between Anglo Saxon and modern cultures (7-10 mins)
- A short 5 minute saga about kinship and relationships (optional).
I prefer interruptions, questions and discussions throughout but I am equally happy to deliver the talk and take questions and have discussions after.
It would be preferable but not essential to use a projector screen or wide screen TV.
I have prepared a poster for your approval.
I hope this is the sort of thing your members would be interested in.
John Parsons
07760 349640
On 13 Oct 2025, at 16:43, Marion Mewett <mrsmarion@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hallo John,
Lovely to meet you today. Thank you for offering to do a talk for us on Anglo Saxon Bognor on March 9th 2026.
I look forward to your confirmation,
My contact number is 07443857350.
Thank you
Marion Mewett
Anglo Saxon Bucgan’ora The cultural origins of Bognor Regis | ||
Hāl (Old English) and its modern form "hale" come from the Proto-Germanic word hailaz, meaning "whole," "entire," or "healthy." This is the same root that gives us the words "whole," "health," and "holy." The Old English greeting "Ƿes hāl!" (Be hale!) is the origin of the word "wassail." Hall (Old English) comes from the Proto-Germanic word hallō, which means "covered place" or "a place to conceal." It refers to a large, enclosed space, such as a great hall in a manor or a public building. This root is related to the word "hell," in its original sense of a "hidden" or "concealed" place. | ||
Ƿes Hāl, mīn nama is Iohannes, and mē līcaþ swīðe tō wesan hēr. | Wes Hail, meen nah-ma is yo-HAH-ness, ond may LEE-kath SWEE-thuh toh way-san hair. | Hello, my name is John and I am very pleased to be here. |
I would like to tell a short story about our Anglo Saxon ancestors, their beliefs and culture, and to ask how relevant it is today. | Gēaþfæstness to þām godum folce of Bucgan’ora. Wē ne biþ gedrifen | |
2 Beliefs 3 Culture | Anglo SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons ruled Britain for approximately 656 years, from roughly 410 AD (after the Romans withdrew) to 1066 AD (the Norman Conquest). Anglo Saxon Governance, referred to as The Dark Ages | Pope Gregory I sent a Benedictine monk named Augustine to Britain in 596 CE to begin the mission of converting the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. |
The Saxons | ||
The Saxons
| From king (cyning) to earls, thegns (nobles/warriors), churls (freemen/peasants), and slaves (thrall or, in Old English, þēow (theow). Another term, wealh) | |
The name "Bucge" is derived from the Old English word for the beech tree. The Anglo-Saxons used the word boc or bece to refer to the beech tree, which was highly valued in their culture. The tree provided shelter, firewood, and its nuts (known as beechmast) were a source of food. Additionally, thin slices of its wood or bark were used for writing, a practice that led to the word for the tree becoming the word for a "book" in Old English (boc). | The name Bucge, therefore, is directly linked to the beech tree and its significance to the Saxon people. It was a name given to a female Saxon leader, who was likely revered for qualities associated with the tree, such as being a source of sustenance, protection, and knowledge. The settlement she founded, Bucge's shore or landing place, was known as Bucgan ora, which eventually became the modern-day name Bognor. | |
Mother of the Woods": In some traditions, particularly Celtic mythology, the beech is referred to as the "Queen" or "Mother of the Woods," often paired with the "King" Oak. This maternal figure embodies nurturing and protective qualities, further linking it to the idea of trust. | Etymological Connection to "Book": Interestingly, in several Germanic languages, including Old English ("boc"), German ("Buche" - beech, "Buch" - book), and Swedish ("bok" - both beech and book), the word for "beech" is the same or very similar to the word for "book." This linguistic link reinforces the beech tree's association with learning, wisdom, and the transmission of knowledge. | |
Beliefs | ||
Beliefs
| Fīf eorþlīce sōþfæstnesse "Feef, E-orth-leek-eh, soath-fast-ness-eh." They are closely linked with our senses of vision, vibration, touch, smell and taste, and with how we trust them and those of others. Also with the seasons, weather and the passage of time. | Pope Gregory I sent a Benedictine monk named Augustine to the Angels in 596 CE to begin the mission of converting the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. Augustine and his companions landed in the kingdom of Æthelberht of Kent (land of the Cantii) in 597 CE. |
Culture | ||
Early Anglo-Saxon Culture. Observations
Less…
| The Dark AgesAnglo SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons ruled Britain for approximately 656 years, from roughly 410 AD (after the Romans withdrew) to 1066 AD (the Norman Conquest). Anglo Saxon Governance | |
Anglo-Saxon kinship was a bilateral system, meaning an individual was considered kin to both their father's and mother's relatives. This network of blood and marriage ties, known as a 'mægth' or kindred, formed the basic social and legal framework of Anglo-Saxon society. It was the primary source of an individual's identity, security, and obligations. | Aþas A common form of the Anglo-Saxon oath of fealty, found in historical documents like the Textus Roffensis, was: "By the Lord before whom this sanctuary is holy, I will to [name of lord] be true and faithful, and love all which he loves and shun all which he shuns, according to the laws of God and the order of the world. Nor will I ever with will or action, through word or deed, do anything which is unpleasing to him, on condition that he will hold to me as I shall deserve it, and that he will perform everything as it was in our agreement when I submitted myself to him and chose his will." | |
In essence, an Anglo-Saxon "village council" wasn't a formal, elected body as we know it today, but rather the collective participation of the community in the tithing and hundred systems, overseen by local officials and ultimately part of a larger hierarchical system of governance under the king. | ||
Anglo-Saxon art and literature, created from the 5th to the 11th centuries, reflect a fascinating blend of pagan Germanic traditions and newly adopted Christian beliefs. The art is characterized by intricate, symbolic designs, while the literature often explores themes of heroism, fate, and the transition from a warrior-focused society to one shaped by Christian morality. | ||
Sources | ||
The Dark AgesThe Dark Ages Anglo SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons ruled Britain for approximately 656 years, from roughly 410 AD (after the Romans withdrew) to 1066 AD (the Norman Conquest). Anglo Saxon Governance Bucge | Anglo Saxon Governance | |