Anglo-Saxon Charters (pre-A.D. 900)

Browse the complete digital corpus of early English diplomas catalogued by Sawyer number and archive

A.D. 726 x 737. Æthelbald, king, to St Mary's Minster, Abingdon; confirmation of lands and grant of 27 hides (cassati) at Watchfield and 10 by Ginge Brook, Berks., with further confirmation by Æthelheard, king (of Wessex). Latin.

Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Rethun, abbot of Abingdon; grant of 10 hides (manentes) at Longworth, Berks, and 18 hides at Aclea, Northtuna and Punningstoce, with the restitution of 15 hides at Sunningwell, 10 hides at Eaton, 10 hides at Sandforda (probably Dry Sandford), 30 hides at Denchworth and Goosey, land at Culham, 10 hides at Ginge and 10 at Leckhampstead (all Berks, except Culham, Oxon.), in return for 120 pounds and 100 hides (mansiones). Latin.

Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Abingdon Abbey; grant of privileges for land at Culham, Oxon.; Kennington, Hinksey, Cumnor, Earmundelæh (cf. Bessels Leigh), Eaton, Sunningwell, Dry Sandford, Wootton, Ginge, Denchworth, Charney (Bassett), Goosey, Fernham, Watchfield, Shrivenham, Bourton, Leckhampstead, Boxford, Welford and Wickham in Welford, Berks., with woodland at Speen, Poughley (in Chaddleworth), Trindlæh (lost), and Easton (in Welford), Berks. Latin.

Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Abingdon Abbey; grant of 15 hides (mansae) at Culham, Oxon., with pasture at Otney (near Sutton Courtenay), Berks. Latin.

A.D. 852 for 842 (Escantun). Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Ælfheah, princeps; grant of 12 hides (cassati) at Calmesden (or by the River Churn and at Calmesden), Gloucs. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 878 for 915 (Weardburg, 16 Sept.). Æthelflæd, ruler of the Mercians, to Eadric, minister; grant of permission to acquire 10 hides (manentes) at Farnborough (Warwicks. or Berks.), bought from Wulflaf. The orginal landbook, granted by King Offa to Bynna, Wulflaf's great-great-grandfather (abavus), had been destroyed in a fire. Latin.

A.D. 687 (5 July). Ine, King of Wessex, to Hean, abbot; grant of 15 hides (cassati) at Bradfield, 15 at Bestlesforda (near Basildon), 25 at Streatley and 80 at Æaromundeslee, all in Berks. Latin.

Ine, king of the (West) Saxons, to Hean, abbot; restoration of land at Abingdon, Berks., for the construction of a minster, with an account of the early history of Abingdon Abbey, including mention of grants of land by the river Thames, at Bestlesford (near Basildon) and at Bradfield, Berks. Latin.

A.D. 688 x 690. Ine, king of Wessex, to Hean, patricius, and to Ceolswith; grant of 45 hides (cassati) at Bradfield, Bestlesford (near Basildon) and Streatley, all in Berks., for the construction of a monastery. Latin.

Beorhtric, king, to Lulla, his princeps; grant of 10 hides (mansiones) at Crux Easton, Hants. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 786 x 794. Beorhtric, king, to Hemele, his princeps; grant of 36 hides (cassati) by the Hissaburna (the Bourne Rivulet), Hants., in exchange for 34 hides by the river Meon, grantd to Hemele by King Cynewulf. Latin.

A.D. 835 (Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxon.). Egbert, king of Wessex, to Abingdon Abbey; grant of 50 hides (manentes) at Marcham, Berks. Latin.

A.D. 854 (Wilton, Wilts., 22 April). Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, to the Church; general grant of land and privileges ('Second Decimation'). Latin.

A.D. 862 (Micheldever, Hants.). Æthelred, king of Wessex, to Æthelwulf, princeps; grant of 10 hides (cassati) at (Little) Wittenham, Berks. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 948 for 868 (Sutton Courtenay, Berks.). Æthelred, king of Wessex, to Cuthred, his minister; grant of 5 hides (cassati) at Balking, Berks. Latin.

A.D. 892 x 899. Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, to Deormod; grant of 5 hides (mansi) at Appleford, Berks., in exchange for land at Harandun (Horn Down near East Hendred, Berks.) and 50 mancuses of gold. Latin with English and English bounds.

Æthelswith, queen of Mercia, to Cuthwulf, minister.; grant of 15 hides (manentes.) at Lockinge, Berks. Latin.

A.D. 844 (? for 843). (1) Ceolred, bishop (of Leicester), to Berhtwulf, king of Mercia; grant of 14 hides (manentes) at Pangbourne, Berks., in return for the freedom of certain minsters. (2) King Berhtwulf grants the land to Æthelwulf, dux. Latin.