Bickleigh's Royal Visitors in 904 AD?

Dr Duncan Probert, an Anglo-Saxon specialist from King's College London has recently returned to first principles and re-considered the evidence for the location of this Hunting Lodge (see his report above). He concludes that Bickleigh near Silverton was the most likely site of this Hunting Lodge and that it would have been situated near the present day site of St Mary's Church. Please see his report which includes an anaylsis of Anglo Saxon charters, ancient routeways and Glebe land boundaries (taken from 1602 and 1685 Bickleigh Terriers)

King Edward the Elder, son of Alfred the Great, stayed at the Royal Hunting Lodge of Bicanleag, possibly twice in 904AD*. Bicanleag is referred to in four Royal Charters dated that year.  

The text relating to Bickleigh which appears at the end of the Charters, before the witness list is as follows:

"In illa uenatoria uilla que saxonice dicitur Bicanleag....."

"At a Hunting Vill which the Saxons call Bickleigh..."

The Charter listed as Sawyer 374/Finberg 38 states that the following witnesses were also present on one occasion in 904AD:

The Archbishop of Canterbury

The Bishop of Winchester

The Bishop of Sherborne

The Bishop of London

A Son of King Edward the Elder (filius regis)

5 Dukes

7 Priests

2 Deacons

13 Ministers

*Further Reseach: If you would like to do more research and see the original Charter texts, look at http://www.esawyer.org.uk/ and browse for Charter numbers S372, S373, S374, S1286. Note that the witness lists of S372, S373 and S374 are almost identical while S1286 is very different, which might suggest it was drawn up on a different occasion in 904AD.  

If Bickleigh, Tiverton did have a specific function as a "Hunting Vill" back in 904AD, this is highly significant. This is because Royal Charters exist for only approximately 1/6th of the meetings that took place. Of this fraction, very few locations where this administration was carried out are listed as having a specific function. Kingston-upon Thames was associated with Coronations for example and Bicanleag with hunting. Further evidence is lacking for other vills or towns having specific functions.

Help Wanted!

We would love to hear from anyone who can read Latin and or old/middle English. The Charters relating to Bickleigh have not been translated yet and it would be great to get this done properly rather than just using Google Translate!