[MR] Waltham Abbey, Battle of Hastings and . . . well . . . Some Naughty Bits

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today I want to call your attention to three related stories linking
Waltham Abbey, the Battle of Hastings, and the Bayeux Tapestry.

Let's start with Waltham Abbey. On this date in 1540, Waltham Abbey was
surrendered to Henry VIII's commissioners, and was the last abbey to be
closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

The abbey church actually has roots in the 7th century. The original
building was replaced by a series of larger and more elaborate structures
until by the 12h century it was among the largest churches in England. The
current church, which remains in use, is mostly Norman though much reduced
in size after the associated monastic buildings were removed and the
central tower collapsed.

Waltham Abbey is thought to be the burial place of King Harold Godwinson,
who was killed at the nearby Battle of Hastings in 1066. According to most
sources, Harold was buried before the altar, though that part of the church
was later destroyed. The purported grave is today marked by a more modern
(and in my opinion) inadequate outdoor memorial.

You can learn more about this important church at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltham_Abbey_Church .

Now to the Battle of Hastings itself. A modern historian, Professor Tom
License, believes the usual story that King Harold marched his army 200
miles to Hastings following their victory at Stamford Bridge near York is a
Victorian trope. He claims that Harold likely moved his army by sea. It
will be interesting to see how this theory develops and how it is
challenged. For example, I ask, "How did Harold scare up enough ships on
short notice to move an entire army?" The story is explored on the BBC at
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3gdxgw44eo .

And finally, in an earlier piece linked below the ship story BBC radio
explores the controversy over how many male organs are shown in the Bayeux
Tapestry (93 or 94, depending on who is doing the Penis Count). The
majority are on horses, but a few of the marginal human figures are shown
naked. When a 19th century copy of the tapestry now displayed at Reading
was created, most of the offending appendages were removed by the prudish
Victorians. The "willies" (as the commentator names them) that remained
were reduced in size. The text story with the radio commentary is found at
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn05wyld45wo .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.