Woolpit
Encyclopedia
Woolpit is a village in the English county of Suffolk
, midway between the towns of Bury St. Edmunds
and Stowmarket
As of 2007 it has a population of 2030. It is notable for the 12th-century legend of the green children of Woolpit
and for its parish church, which has especially fine medieval woodwork. Administratively Woolpit is a civil parish
, part of the district of Mid Suffolk
.
Before the Norman conquest of England
, the village belonged to Ulfcytel Snillingr
. Between 1174 and 1180, Walter de Coutances
, a confidante of King Henry II
, was appointed to Woolpit. After his "death or retirement" it was to be granted to the monks of Bury St Edmunds Abbey. A bull of Pope Alexander III
likewise confirms that revenues from Woolpit are to be given to the abbey.
In 15th century and some time later, two fairs were held annually. The Horse Fair was held on two closes, or fields, on September 16. The Cow Fair, on September 19, was also held on its own field; here toys were sold as well as cattle.
The shrine of the Virgin St Mary was a popular stopping point for pilgrims on their way to Walsingham
Abbey, and a local spring (Lady Well) was renowned for its healing properties. From the 17th century, the area became an important manufacturing centre for "Suffolk White" bricks but today only the pits remain.
Woolpit is in the Hundreds of Suffolk
of Thedwestry, 8 miles (12.9 km) southeast of Bury. The area of the parish is 2010 acres (8.1 km²) ; the population in 1831 was 880, less than half agricultural.
Mill Lane marks the site of a post mill which was demolished in about 1924. Another mill, which fell down in 1963, stood in Windmill Avenue.
Two children are reported to have appeared mysteriously in the village some time during the 12th century. The brother and sister were of generally normal appearance except for the green colour of their skin. They wore strange-looking clothes, spoke in a unknown language, and the only food they would eat was green beans. Eventually they learned to eat other food and lost their green palour, but the boy was sickly and died soon after the children were baptised. The girl adjusted to her new life, but she was considered to be "rather loose and wanton in her conduct". After learning to speak English she explained that she and her brother had come from , an underground world whose inhabitants are green.
Some researchers believe that the story of the green children is a typical folk tale, describing an imaginary encounter with the inhabitants of another world, perhaps one beneath our feet or even extraterrestrial. Others consider it to be a garbled account of a historical event, perhaps connected with the persecution of the many Flemish mercenaries living in the area at that time.
Local author and folk singer Bob Roberts states in his 1978 book A Slice of Suffolk that "I was told there are still people in Woolpit who are 'descended from the green children', but nobody would tell me who they were!"
", a profusion of medieval carved pew
-ends (mixed with good 19th-century recreations), and a large and very fine porch of 1430–55. The tower and spire
are by Richard Phipson
in the 1850s, replacing the originals lost to lightning in 1852 or 1853. Most of the rest of the church is Perpendicular
, except for the 14th-century south aisle and chancel
. There is fine flushwork
decoration on the exterior of the clerestory
. The medieval shrine was at the east end of the south aisle. The "quite perfect" eagle lectern
is a rare early-Tudor original from before the English Reformation
.
A well, like the church dedicated to Mary
, is found in a meadow near the eastern end of the church; local tradition held that there was once a chapel next to the spring; the church contained a Marian shrine
as described above. The perpetual spring, bricked and about two feet deep, is the source of cold and "beautifully clear water". An early 19th-century description states that "weakly children" and people with poor eyesight are immersed in the water.
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, midway between the towns of Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...
and Stowmarket
Stowmarket
-See also:* Stowmarket Town F.C.* Stowmarket High School-External links:* * * * *...
As of 2007 it has a population of 2030. It is notable for the 12th-century legend of the green children of Woolpit
Green children of Woolpit
The green children of Woolpit reportedly appeared in the village of Woolpit in Suffolk, England, some time in the 12th century, perhaps during the reign of King Stephen. The children, brother and sister, were of generally normal appearance except for the green colour of their skin. They spoke in an...
and for its parish church, which has especially fine medieval woodwork. Administratively Woolpit is a civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
, part of the district of Mid Suffolk
Mid Suffolk
Mid Suffolk is a local government district in Suffolk, England. Its council is based in Needham Market, and the largest town is Stowmarket.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the Borough of Eye, Stowmarket urban district, Gipping Rural District, Hartismere Rural District and...
.
History
The village's name, first recorded in the 10th century as Wlpit and then later as Wlfpeta, derives from the Old English wulf-pytt, meaning "pit for trapping wolves".Before the Norman conquest of England
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
, the village belonged to Ulfcytel Snillingr
Ulfcytel Snillingr
Ulfcytel was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman. He was apparently the ealdorman of East Anglia from 1004 to his death at the battle of Assandun, although he is not called an ealdorman in any of the charters he witnessed...
. Between 1174 and 1180, Walter de Coutances
Walter de Coutances
Walter de Coutances was a medieval English Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of Rouen. He began his royal service in the government of Henry II, serving as a vice-chancellor...
, a confidante of King Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
, was appointed to Woolpit. After his "death or retirement" it was to be granted to the monks of Bury St Edmunds Abbey. A bull of Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III , born Rolando of Siena, was Pope from 1159 to 1181. He is noted in history for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris.-Church career:...
likewise confirms that revenues from Woolpit are to be given to the abbey.
In 15th century and some time later, two fairs were held annually. The Horse Fair was held on two closes, or fields, on September 16. The Cow Fair, on September 19, was also held on its own field; here toys were sold as well as cattle.
The shrine of the Virgin St Mary was a popular stopping point for pilgrims on their way to Walsingham
Walsingham
Walsingham is a village in the English county of Norfolk. The village is famed for its religious shrines in honour of the Virgin Mary and as a major pilgrimage centre...
Abbey, and a local spring (Lady Well) was renowned for its healing properties. From the 17th century, the area became an important manufacturing centre for "Suffolk White" bricks but today only the pits remain.
Woolpit is in the Hundreds of Suffolk
Hundreds of Suffolk
The county of Suffolk was divided into hundreds between Saxon times and the 19th century, when they were replaced for administrative purposes by districts.In 1831 the county was subdivided into twenty-one hundreds and three municipal boroughs...
of Thedwestry, 8 miles (12.9 km) southeast of Bury. The area of the parish is 2010 acres (8.1 km²) ; the population in 1831 was 880, less than half agricultural.
Mill Lane marks the site of a post mill which was demolished in about 1924. Another mill, which fell down in 1963, stood in Windmill Avenue.
Demographics
In 1811, Woolpit had 625 inhabitants in 108 houses. By 1821 the population had increased to 801 inhabitants in 116 houses.Legend of the Green Children
Two children are reported to have appeared mysteriously in the village some time during the 12th century. The brother and sister were of generally normal appearance except for the green colour of their skin. They wore strange-looking clothes, spoke in a unknown language, and the only food they would eat was green beans. Eventually they learned to eat other food and lost their green palour, but the boy was sickly and died soon after the children were baptised. The girl adjusted to her new life, but she was considered to be "rather loose and wanton in her conduct". After learning to speak English she explained that she and her brother had come from , an underground world whose inhabitants are green.
Some researchers believe that the story of the green children is a typical folk tale, describing an imaginary encounter with the inhabitants of another world, perhaps one beneath our feet or even extraterrestrial. Others consider it to be a garbled account of a historical event, perhaps connected with the persecution of the many Flemish mercenaries living in the area at that time.
Local author and folk singer Bob Roberts states in his 1978 book A Slice of Suffolk that "I was told there are still people in Woolpit who are 'descended from the green children', but nobody would tell me who they were!"
St Mary's Church
The church has "Suffolk's most perfectly restored angel hammerbeam roofHammerbeam roof
Hammerbeam roof, in architecture, is the name given to an open timber roof, typical of English Gothic architecture, using short beams projecting from the wall.- Design :...
", a profusion of medieval carved pew
Pew
A pew is a long bench seat or enclosed box used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a church, or sometimes in a courtroom.-Overview:Churches were not commonly furnished with permanent pews before the Protestant Reformation...
-ends (mixed with good 19th-century recreations), and a large and very fine porch of 1430–55. The tower and spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
are by Richard Phipson
Richard Phipson
Richard Makilwaine Phipson was an English architect. A diocesan architect for the Anglican Diocese of Norwich, he is responsible for the renovation of almost 100 churches in East Anglia.-Biography:...
in the 1850s, replacing the originals lost to lightning in 1852 or 1853. Most of the rest of the church is Perpendicular
Perpendicular
In geometry, two lines or planes are considered perpendicular to each other if they form congruent adjacent angles . The term may be used as a noun or adjective...
, except for the 14th-century south aisle and chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
. There is fine flushwork
Flushwork
-Description:In architecture, flushwork is the decorative combination on the same flat plane of flint and ashlar stone. It is characteristic of the external walls of medieval buildings, most of the survivors being churches, in parts of Southern England, but especially East Anglia...
decoration on the exterior of the clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
. The medieval shrine was at the east end of the south aisle. The "quite perfect" eagle lectern
Lectern
A lectern is a reading desk with a slanted top, usually placed on a stand or affixed to some other form of support, on which documents or books are placed as support for reading aloud, as in a scripture reading, lecture, or sermon...
is a rare early-Tudor original from before the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
.
A well, like the church dedicated to Mary
Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honour as Mother of God...
, is found in a meadow near the eastern end of the church; local tradition held that there was once a chapel next to the spring; the church contained a Marian shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
as described above. The perpetual spring, bricked and about two feet deep, is the source of cold and "beautifully clear water". An early 19th-century description states that "weakly children" and people with poor eyesight are immersed in the water.