CHAPTER 4: HAPPING DURING THE DARK AGES
In the parish of Witton (near Happing), only 4 areas of Early Saxon (410 AD - 650 AD) occupation replaced the 8 small Romano-British sites that were not all occupied at the same time but varied between the 5th and 6th centuries (1). Whilst one of the buildings was a post-built Hall (2), fieldwalking finds suggest that about only 25% of the land was under cultivation (3). Witton (and undoubtedly Happing) shows economic recession and technological regression in the post Roman period. Grave goods found from this period strongly suggest a large influx of people from the Anglian region of Schleswig in north Germany/south Denmark (the Angles), confirmed by the venerable Bede (4). In 630 AD, a monk called Fursa from Ireland was given either Burgh Castle or Caister as a base from which to spread Christianity (5). During the Middle Saxon period (650 AD - 865 AD), the archaeological evidence in Norfolk changes (shortly after 700 AD) and suggests that the region was arguably more Christian than pagan (6). Late Anglo-Saxon (865 AD - 1066 AD) artefacts recorded in Happing (2002) are concentrated around Happisburgh and the Stalham/Ingham area. Whilst they are few in number, the artefacts around the Happisburgh area are of high quality and are indicative of high status. Late Saxon weaponry has been found around the Wayford bridge area and may suggest warfare. Viking forces first raided East Anglia in 865 AD (7) when they stayed over winter and gathered horses (possibly at Horsey?). East Anglia remained under Scandinavian control until 917 AD when the West Saxons re-conquered East Anglia. It is thought that this was the start of the system of Hundreds - areas of land containing approximately 100 families (8). Happing is defined by the river Ant in the west, river Thurne in the south and the coast in the northeast. It is generally accepted that the Hundred of Happing took its name from an individual called Haep, whose lands and people made up the Hundred (9). The name Haep also occurs in Cheshire - Hapsford (Haep's ford). Haep is thought to have had his Hall (or stronghold) at Happisburgh (10). Place names invariably date from this period and can suggest past land use, people, features, etc. For example in Happing (11);
Brumstead - A Broome (the plant) covered place.
Catfield - A field where wild cats are found.
Eccles - A church.
Heigham (Potter) - Homestead with a hedge or grating to catch fish.
Happing - The place of Haep's people.
Happisburgh - The stronghold of Haep.
Hickling - The place of Hicela's people.
Hempstead - Homestead.
Horsey - Horse Island.
Ingham - Settlement by a river meadow.
Lessingham - The homestead of Leofsige's people.
Ludham - The homestead of Luda.
Palling (Sea) - The place of Paelli's people.
Ruston - Settlement or farm near brushwood.
Stalham - Homestead by a pool.
Sutton - Southern enclosure or place.
Walcott - Serf or Foreigner's cottage.
Waxham - Settlement by the stone where a watch is held.
Wayford (19th century maps give the spelling as Weyford) - Ford over the river Wey (12).
Each Hundred had a meeting place or court where laws were passed and judgements made. The location of the meeting place in Happing is unknown but three candidates are offered. How Hill (near Ludham and St Benet's Abbey) is spelt Hoe Hill on a map dated 1797. The name Hoe is thought to indicate a prehistoric burial mound, a popular location for Anglo-Saxon meeting places (13). The knoll at Wayford Bridge, a prominent hill next to an ancient ford. The church 'mound' at Happisburgh, a prominent hill and possible location for the Hall (strong-hold) of the chief of Happing (i.e., Haep). The cutting of peat that resulted in the formation of the Broads is thought to have started around 900 AD (14). This practice may have been introduced by the Angles and could indicate the scarcity of firewood at the time. Calculations suggest that around 26 Million cubic metres of peat were extracted in the Broadland area between the 10th century and the 14th century (15).