Oswaldslow facts for kids

The Oswaldslow was an important area in the old English county of Worcestershire. It was like a special district or "hundred" during Anglo-Saxon times and after the Norman Conquest. It was unique because it was actually made up of three smaller hundreds combined into one big one.

What Was the Oswaldslow?

The Oswaldslow was a large district in Worcestershire, England. It was called a "hundred," which was a way of dividing land in old England. It was special because it was actually a "triple hundred," meaning it combined three smaller areas: Cuthburgelow, Winburgetreow, and Wulfereslaw Hundreds.

How the Oswaldslow Got Its Name

The name "Oswaldslow" is thought to come from Bishop Oswald of Worcester. He was an important church leader who died in 992. However, the name might have an even older origin.

From Oslaf to Oswald

The name originally came from a prince named Oslaf. He was from a place called Bernicia. Oslaf and his brother Oswudu may have helped King Penda of Mercia conquer this area in the mid-7th century. A local landmark, a mound, was named "Oslafeshlaw" after him. This means "the mound of Oslaf." Later, when this mound became the meeting place for the triple hundred, its name changed to sound like Oswald's name.

The Forged Charter

A very old document, called a charter, was supposedly written by King Edgar the Peaceful in 964. This charter was used to claim that the church in Worcester had special legal rights over the Oswaldslow. However, historians today have found that this charter was actually a fake. It was created later to help the church prove its claims to these rights.

The Domesday Book and Special Rights

The Domesday Book was a huge survey of England made after the Norman Conquest. It recorded who owned what and what rights they had.

What Domesday Book Said

The Domesday Book mentioned the Oswaldslow. It said that the Church of St. Mary of Worcester had this hundred. It also stated that the bishop of Worcester had all the legal power there. This meant that no "vicomes" (a type of sheriff) could interfere with any legal matters in the Oswaldslow. The whole county agreed with this.

Why This Passage Was Important

This part of the Domesday Book was very important for the church in Worcester. It helped them claim their special rights in the Oswaldslow. It was copied several times into a collection of documents called Hemming's Cartulary. The documents especially emphasized that the county sheriff had no power within the Oswaldslow.

Rights Before the Normans

Some historians believe that the bishop did have some special rights before the Normans arrived. However, the idea of complete legal freedom in the Oswaldslow likely became stronger after the Norman Conquest. This was because new Norman nobles were used to this kind of legal freedom in their own lands.

The Bishop's Powers in Oswaldslow

Even though the charter was fake, the church and its bishop did have many real rights in the Oswaldslow during the Anglo-Saxon period.

Military and Administrative Control

The bishop had the right to command the "fyrd" (a local army) of the hundred during wartime. The Oswaldslow was also required to provide a ship for the king, making it a "shipsoke." This meant that for administration and military matters, the triple hundred looked to the bishop, not to the local "ealdorman" (a high-ranking official).

Royal Confirmation of Rights

Under Bishop Wulfstan, who died in 1095, the bishop made sure the king confirmed his rights in the Oswaldslow. The king sent an official order, called a "writ," to the Sheriff of Worcester, Urse d'Abetot. This writ confirmed that the bishop had the right of "sac and soc" (special legal powers) in the Oswaldslow. These rights were the same as those held during the time of King Edward the Confessor. Other royal decisions at that time also confirmed that many of Wulfstan's estates were part of the Oswaldslow.

Changes to the Hundred

Later, a new hundred called Halfshire was formed. This probably happened in the mid-12th century. When Halfshire was created, three manors (large estates) from the hundred of Came moved to the Oswaldslow. These were Alvechurch, Stoke Prior, and Osmerley. The rest of the manors from Came went to the new Halfshire hundred.