On a very wet evening Lindsey Nowick came to talk to us about ‘Life in the Danelaw: the role of women.’
After the Romans, the Anglo Saxons were constantly raided by the Vikings and much of eastern England from the Thames to Northumberland was settled by them. Generally they lived in relative harmony although under Danish Law.
Both Vikings and Saxons lived communally in one-room dwellings usually with a fire in the centre. The Saxons, however, lived in villages while the Vikings lived in isolated farmsteads. Women had similar roles - looking after children and animals, cooking, spinning and weaving wool and flax, and making clothes. Viking women were also responsible for making sails and very heavy blankets for use on longships.
Lindsey highlighted the differences in dress although all higher status women wore brighter colours and more decorated garments. Lindsey had come dressed in Viking dress and wore bright beads. The Saxons wore more subdued jewellery and as Christians their necklaces often included a cross. Lindsey passed examples for us to see.
Higher status Saxon women were often involved in trade and had influential positions in the Christian community, some becoming abbesses like Hilda of Whitby.
All higher status men could have several wives whereas serfs had no wives as there were not enough women to go round.
Interestingly both communities had rules against domestic violence.
When Lindsey had finished speaking she demonstrated one of the skills practiced by the women, called finger loop braiding. Members had a go at this with various degrees of success!
The next meeting will be on October 8th when the subject will be “Horticulture and Young People - Self Esteem”.
In November we are in for a treat when Janet Ingleson and Sue Jackson will talk to us about their time working and living in Africa. THIS WILL BE AN OPEN MEETING AND ALL WILL BE WELCOME.
Eileen Reynolds
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