Seckington
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A Brief History of Seckington
Though small, Seckington has seen many important events throughout the ages. From the time when the British isles was a patchwork of innumerable kingdoms, with Mercia dominating much of England, to theCrusades where Robert Burdett fought as a “valiant and devout knight”, Seckington has witnessed interesting people and many changes, even though, unlike the rest of England, its own development was not dramatic and the population actually declined from 130 residents in 1801 until today the total stands at 43 adults and 22 children, 8 of whom are away in term time.
The hamlet of Seckington appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as Seccandum and in the Domesday Book as Sechintone. Its earliest mention refers to a battle in 757 AD during a conflict between Cuthred, King of the West Saxons, and Aethelbald, King of the Mercians. Aethelbald reigned for 41 years and is described in a charter dated 737 as a “King of Britain” (rex Britanniae) and “as king not only of the Mercians but also of all provinces which were called by the general name ‘South English’”. He died at Seckington in 757 AD and Henry of Huntingdon describes the King’s death: “…in another battle at Seccandane in which the carnage was wonderful, disdaining to flee he was slain in the field.” However, a more accepted theory is that Aethelbald was murdered by his own bodyguard - an act of extreme treachery, given that bodyguards were there to protect, with their own lives if necessary. This may have been a dynastic coup, similar to those taking place in Northumberland at the time, since the immediate successor was Boernred, a member of a rival dynasty. He did not reign for long, however, being quickly succeeded by Offa, although there is no evidence to suggest that Offa was directly responsible for Aethelbald’s death. Aethelbald was taken to Repton in Derbyshire, the old capital of the kingdom of Mercia, and laid to rest in the large crypt of the monastic church, where later King Wiglaf (840 AD) and his grandson Wystan (850 AD) were also buried. The present church of St. Wystan is well worth a visit: it was built around 975 AD after the destruction of the monastery by the Danes in 874-5 AD, though extensively altered in the 13th and 15th centuries. The Saxon crypt, however, is largely intact, with many of its original features, including a stone floor and spiral carved columns.
The Domesday records show that Seckington had a community of 12 villagers, 9 smallholders and 5 ploughs. In the time of Edward the Confessor, the village seems to have been in the possession of Godric (from before the Norman invasion) and that of Cedric. After the Conquest two Norman Lords, Ingenulf and Arnulf obtained some of Cedric’s land. In the Conqueror’s time the Earl of Mellent possessed the greatest part of this village. Later, in the reign of Henry II the Earl of Mellent sold the village to William de Camvile and his heirs “by the name of Domus de Secchendona” for XI marks of silver. Elizabeth Camvile, a female heir, married Robert Burdett, and thus the Lordship came into the Burdett family. By 1316 the village was jointly owned by Robert Burdett and by Gerald de Sekyndon (from whom the village has its name) until 1549, after which it remained in Burdett ownership. Robert Burdett had a grant of a free warren (game park) in Seckington in 1327 and his son and heir Robert was born in 1345. In the village church of All Saints there is a monument erected in the year 1603 to a Robert Burdett who was secretary to Queen Elizabeth I. By coincidence this family had an estate at Foremark near Repton and is at times referred to as ‘Burdett of Foremark’. Sir Francis Burdett, the 8th Baronet, sold the Seckington estate in 1919.
The Motte and Bailey dating from Norman times would have been built in 1067 or 1068. Many such castles were constructed in England at that time. A wooden structure at the top would have been cheap and quick to construct and provided the conquerors with a defensive base in a hostile environment. Seckington was very small and as such would have been used for less than 100 years. Unlike Tamworth, it did not have a stone castle built and thus was abandoned in favour of another location.
All Saints Church has a tower dating from the thirteenth century, which would have been added on to an earlier building of which there is no evidence today, but it suggests that it could have been a church of Norman origin or earlier. There has been repair work done throughout the ages but the majority of the church is from the fourteenth century. Today it is in good repair, cared for by a small but dedicated group of people. A weathered monument to Lady Burdett dating from the early fourteenth century links Seckington with Alvecote Priory, which was built by Robert Burdett from Seckington stone, and is rich with local legend.
Seckington also has connections with the famous Washington family, who were wealthy wool merchants from Lancashire and are said to have owned two houses in Seckington (half way houses to London) in the reign of Henry VIII (1509 – 47). John Washington emigrated to Virginia in 1657 and it was his great-grandson George who became a leader of the War of Independence in 1783 and later the first President.
Seckington, with its Motte and Bailey and mediaeval church, is a village full of living history yet steeped in legend and myth. From visits of kings from the past such as Aethelbald, right up to its connections with the famous Washington family who came to make their mark on America, the village of Seckington may be small but has managed to make an impressive mark on British history.
Annabel Arnold