Come and join us for a limited opportunity to visit the recently discovered Saxon Cookham Abbey. The University of Reading is continuing its investigations of this archaeological site, which is close to the river Thames. We shall discover the history of the site and be told the story of Queen Cynethryth (the wife of King Offa of Mercia and its abbess) as well as learn about some of the important finds that have been unearthed. The finds include skeletons that were buried over 1200 years ago.

The University of Reading’s work at the Cookham Abbey site was featured on the BBC show “Digging for Britain”. The site tour will be led by a representative from the Friends of Cookham Abbey.

The Friends of Cookham Abbey are encouraging school children to visit the site this summer, so this represents the perfect opportunity for grandparents to bring their school age grandchildren during their summer holidays to learn about an important part of British history.

In addition, we shall have a guided tour of the nearby and recently refurbished Holy Trinity church, where the artist Stanley Spencer is buried in the graveyard. This will be led by a member of the church community. On the day we visit the Abbey dig’s artist in residence will be in the church and available for us to ask her questions about her work.

And if time permits there may be a chance to investigate the village high street. This includes the Stanley Spencer Gallery, housed in an old Methodist chapel, as well as the birthplace of the artist.

FROM FRIENDS OF COOKHAM ABBEY WEBSITE

https://www.cookhamabbey.org.uk/archaeology/

We’re unearthing a royal monastery that’s been hidden beneath Cookham for over 1,000 years. It stood here in the eighth and ninth centuries. It’s very rare to find early medieval monastic archaeology in such a good state of preservation.

Cookham is a site of national importance.

The meeting place will be notified a few days before the walk. Please arrive 10 mins early for signing in and safety briefing etc.  Parking at Cookham Church is reserved exclusively for the dig team and therefore the main parking space is the National Trust car park on the Moor but this is a pay and display and can be busy. 

Numbers are limited, so pre-booking is required. Bookings close three days beforehand. 

Image above: View of the Cookham Abbey dig site from above (Friends of Cookham Abbey)

Image right: Church of England parish church of the Holy Trinity, Cookham, Berkshire: view from the south

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