Waltham Abbey despite being absorbed into the London metropolitan leviathan still retains its village feel in parts. Its a place that is suggestive of somewhere which has also retained some custom or tradition but also no. So the development of a custom focused on Waltham Abbey most famed resident is much welcomed. The organisation website recalls its foundation
“Elaine Fletcher and Tricia Gurnett, who both used to work in the area, decided they would like to do something to promote the rich history of this ancient town. They soon found that Isabelle Perrichon, owner of the historic tearooms in the town and a French national, had the same idea, and had spoken to the Rector at the Abbey Church, who had asked Dave and Sheila Giles to represent the Church on the group. The sixth person who joined was Garth Gregory, a local amateur dramatics enthusiast. This little group put together the first event…
It was decided that King Harold Day would be on the nearest Saturday to 14 October each year, (the anniversary of Harold’s death), and the Abbey Church authorities and the Lee Valley Regional Park kindly allow the use of the Church, the Churchyard and the Abbey Gardens, which together provide a magnificent site for the festival. “
And so was established the first King Harold Day in 2004. That first year attracted 3000 people and in 2010 it won Best Event in the Essex Tourism Awards.
Now King Harold Day has become an established part of Waltham Abbey’s year.
Hasting to get there.
I arrived in good time to see a small group of costumed performers started to assemble at the towns museum to process to the churchyard when the last Saxon King of England’s grave is to be found. Watching various medieval folk wander through the busy Saturday market crowd headed by a horn blower, musicians and the rector was quite surreal and certainly turned a few heads although it was pretty evident that the locals knew why was going on.
Watch out for with that spear!
We soon arrived at the grave side where the Saxon soldiers raised their spears as we solemnly paid tribute to this long lost monarch. At the grave a pa system was ready for this al fresco service but clearly it was having some tething problems and was soon abandoned.
The commemoration started with a recital in Old English by a member of the English Companions fortunately given a modern translation. Some interesting details about Harold given by the Chairman of Waltham Abbey Historical Society. And the finally the Rev’d Tim Yeager asked us to remember Harold Godwinson as the Mayor of Waltham and others laid floral tributes until the whole grave was covered with floral tributes. It was a poignant moment.
Afterwards we we treated to the local Morris team dancing in the path by the church which might seem a little out of place but as I have mentioned before Morris is a bit of a standard for any newly developed custom
Overall, King Harold’ day is a welcome addition to the custom calendar
In search of traditional customs and ceremonies 