Winchcombeshire, an ancient county in the South West of England, in the 10th and 11th centuries, developed around its county town, Winchcombe.
It appears that it had a separate existence as a petty kingdom prior to this time. King Coenwulf of Mercia is associated with the region before becoming king. A link with the earlier kingdom of Hwicce has been surmised, given the apparent link between Coenwulf's family and that of the kings of Hwicce.
It appears to have been amalgmated with Gloucestershire after Cnut of Denmark conquered England in 1017.
Winchcombeshire, England's lost county, to ring in its 1,000th year
By Martin Hickman
22 March 2007
Winchcombeshire was situated approximately where Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire now lie
During Liz Hurley's glamorous wedding to Arun Nayar this month, the small Cotswolds town of Winchcombe teemed with the world's media.
This spring, the 5,000 residents of this corner of Gloucestershire have another celebration to mark, though it is unlikely to attract a single red-top reporter or autograph hunter.
When the bells ring out in Winchcombe this May, they will be marking the anniversary of a long-forgotten municipal oddity.
One thousand years ago, the county of Winchcombeshire began its short life under the ill-named Ethelred the Unready. Alas, just a decade later, in 1017, the county was abolished by the invading Dane King Cnut and absorbed into Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire.
Its contribution to history would have remained lost in time but for a small band of the town's residents. One of them, Clare Pritchard, 59, an IT worker and campanologist, is organising a bell-ringing celebration on 7 May to mark the 1,000th anniversary of one of the tiniest English counties.
She hopes to hear peals from 66 churches she has identified as residing within its historic boundary.
"We didn't want the 1,000th anniversary of Winchcombeshire to pass without any celebration - we're quite proud to live in the old county town," said Mrs Pritchard. "We've decided to encourage people to ring the bells in as many of the old parish churches as possible during the year.
"It is fitting because churches would have been at the centre of these parishes, and in many cases still are. Winchcombeshire was based around Winchcombe Abbey, which owned land over quite a wide area. The abbey has now gone, but there is a stone cross to mark the spot."
Before the arrival of county status, Winchcombe - believed to be the last resting place of the Saint Kenelm, an Anglo-Saxon saint - was governed by King Coenwulf of Mercia. Mrs Pritchard explained:
"The county was created in 1007 but was absorbed into neighbouring shires just 10 years later, but I'm not sure why. It consisted of 139 parishes that were divided into 12 Hundreds, and I have done some research and found evidence of all the parishes.
"Some have gone and the only clues to their existence are local place names, such as Hoffingt
on, which is the name of a copse and only locals seem to know of it. But the vast majority survive, and there are 66 churches which have five or more bells with the potential to be rung. We are hoping to get as many ringing as possible during the year."
Coenwulf, King of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia that later merged with the other kingdoms to form England, on a coin
independent.co.uk
It appears that it had a separate existence as a petty kingdom prior to this time. King Coenwulf of Mercia is associated with the region before becoming king. A link with the earlier kingdom of Hwicce has been surmised, given the apparent link between Coenwulf's family and that of the kings of Hwicce.
It appears to have been amalgmated with Gloucestershire after Cnut of Denmark conquered England in 1017.
Winchcombeshire, England's lost county, to ring in its 1,000th year
By Martin Hickman
22 March 2007
Winchcombeshire was situated approximately where Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire now lie
During Liz Hurley's glamorous wedding to Arun Nayar this month, the small Cotswolds town of Winchcombe teemed with the world's media.
This spring, the 5,000 residents of this corner of Gloucestershire have another celebration to mark, though it is unlikely to attract a single red-top reporter or autograph hunter.
When the bells ring out in Winchcombe this May, they will be marking the anniversary of a long-forgotten municipal oddity.
One thousand years ago, the county of Winchcombeshire began its short life under the ill-named Ethelred the Unready. Alas, just a decade later, in 1017, the county was abolished by the invading Dane King Cnut and absorbed into Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire.
Its contribution to history would have remained lost in time but for a small band of the town's residents. One of them, Clare Pritchard, 59, an IT worker and campanologist, is organising a bell-ringing celebration on 7 May to mark the 1,000th anniversary of one of the tiniest English counties.
She hopes to hear peals from 66 churches she has identified as residing within its historic boundary.
"We didn't want the 1,000th anniversary of Winchcombeshire to pass without any celebration - we're quite proud to live in the old county town," said Mrs Pritchard. "We've decided to encourage people to ring the bells in as many of the old parish churches as possible during the year.
"It is fitting because churches would have been at the centre of these parishes, and in many cases still are. Winchcombeshire was based around Winchcombe Abbey, which owned land over quite a wide area. The abbey has now gone, but there is a stone cross to mark the spot."
Before the arrival of county status, Winchcombe - believed to be the last resting place of the Saint Kenelm, an Anglo-Saxon saint - was governed by King Coenwulf of Mercia. Mrs Pritchard explained:
"The county was created in 1007 but was absorbed into neighbouring shires just 10 years later, but I'm not sure why. It consisted of 139 parishes that were divided into 12 Hundreds, and I have done some research and found evidence of all the parishes.
"Some have gone and the only clues to their existence are local place names, such as Hoffingt
on, which is the name of a copse and only locals seem to know of it. But the vast majority survive, and there are 66 churches which have five or more bells with the potential to be rung. We are hoping to get as many ringing as possible during the year."
Coenwulf, King of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia that later merged with the other kingdoms to form England, on a coin
independent.co.uk
Last edited: