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Welcome to the Village of Hoxne
and the hoxne.net
THE HOXNE VILLAGE SIGN
Edmund was killed by The Danes probably in 869 AD although there are other suggestions. He had become King of East Anglia in 855 AD and was defeated in battle by the Danes at Thetford and pursued by them to Hoxne. Here he hid under Goldbrook Bridge but was betrayed by a passing wedding party which saw the reflection of his golden spurs in the water. He was offered his life in return for reverting to Paganism and serving as their vassal king in East Anglia. He refused and was then tied to an oak tree and killed by a volley of arrows. Tradition has it that this tree stood where the monument stands. His head was cut off and his corpse thrown into the bushes. A few days later his head, which was being guarded by a wolf, and his corpse were discovered by his followers and were immediately rejoined. A chapel was built on the site and his body taken for burial to what became the great abbey of St Edmund's, which of course we now know is in the town of Bury St Edmund's.
The sign depicts the Gold of The Hoxne Hoard and the Blue Waves indicate The Dove, The Waveney, The Chickering and The Goldbrook River. The Crown indicates Edmund's Kingship. The Oak Tree and Arrows show the method of his death. The Tigress represents the Silver Tigress, a handle originally from a large vase or amphora which was part of The Hoxne Hoard.
In 1992, Eric Lawes was out looking for an old lump hammer that had been dropped but got more than he bargained when he found a priceless Roman “treasure chest” of 14,780 gold, silver and bronze coins plus 200 exquisite items of jewellery, ornaments and tableware, all part of the accumulated wealth of the very affluent family of Aurelius Ursicinus and dating from 307 to 407 AD depicting 15 different Roman Emperors. The Hoard is now available to view in the British Museum.
The "Half Penny" Coin was issued by Thomas Tallant and is a token celebrating the Hoxne and Hartismere cavalry unit of the Suffolk Yeomanry. It was also used as currency in local shops, possibly as currency on the Kerrison Estates as well as a Volunteer Medal. The reverse shows a castle and the date 1795 and, within the crowned garter is inscribed LIBERTY LOYALTY PROPERTY.
Finally, there are two reproduction Hand Axes in the plinth. In 1797 John Frere found flint tools, including Stone Age hand-axes twelve feet deep in Hoxne Brick Pit. This was the earliest recognition that hand-axes were the work of early humans rather than thunderbolts or meteorites as previously thought. Sadly, his theory wasn't proven until after his death but there is one of his hand- axes on display in The British Museum.
Hoxne is a beautiful old Suffolk village with a unique and truly ancient history.
The first Hoxnians settled here over 320,000 years ago alongside a lake and a major geological period, the Hoxnian Interglacial (375,000 to 425,000 years ago), was named after Hoxne. John Frere discovered the first human tools at the site which had become the Hoxne brick pit; the Hoxne Hoard is one of the biggest discoveries of Roman treasure in the UK much of which is on display at The British Museum. It is thought the martyrdom of King (later Saint) Edmund took place at Hoxne in 869 AD, and until the 9th century, the ancient Bishop's seat of East Anglia was at Hoxne before being moved to Norfolk.
There are many interesting local walks and places to see as well as much interesting architecture. The 13th century church of St Peter and St Paul which stands at the top of a hill overlooking the village and The Swan Inn, a magnificent 15th century pub, are both worthy of a visit. A short walk from the Inn, you will discover Goldbrook Bridge, beneath which King Edmund was captured by the Danes after being given away by his golden spurs. Across the road stands St Edmund's Village Hall originally a Reading Room built by The Kerrison Family of Oakley Park in 1879 for the parish.
To know more about Hoxne's unique history, visit the Hoxne Heritage Group website http://hoxnehistory.org.uk
We hope you will enjoy our new web site. Please do keep us updated with forthcoming events, news and photographs for the gallery
Contact us on hoxnenews@btinternet.com
A few suggested walks
www.discoversuffolk.org.uk/assets/Walks/Up-to-6-miles/Treasured-Suffolk-Hoxne.pdf
www.hoxnehistory.org.uk/HHW.php
For Hoxne Parish Council
Contact Sarah Foote, The Clerk
Every precaution has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents but no liability, consequently, or otherwise, is accepted for errors or omissions