March 28 is the feast day of St Alkeda (Alkelda, Athilda, Alcelda), who is recognised by two churches in the Yorkshire Dales – Church of St Mary and St Alkelda, Middleham, near Richmond and St Alkelda’s Church, Giggleswick, near Settle.
When the Middlham church was renovated in 1878, an Anglo-Saxon stone coffin was discovered that contained the remains of a woman, who is thought to be the martyred St Alkelda.
The legend goes that she was a Saxon princess, nun or abbess called Alkelda who was murdered by a heathen Viking woman during the Danish raids 28 March AD 800. This scene was recreated in a stain glass window in the Middlham church.
William Grainge suggested in the 1800s that her name al-kelda could have meant a holy woman of the spring. It was perhaps derived from Old English hǣlcelde (halig kelda), healing spring, holy well or spring – root Anglo-Saxon word for holy was halig, while a well was kelda. Keld is a word that is used in Yorkshire where it means “well” or “spring”, such as Keldholme and Keld Head.
The area around Middleham became known Hallikeld and in 1157 an administrative division near Richmond was called Halikeldshire. There is also a St Alkelda’s Well close to the Middleham church.
Giggleswick’s links with St Alkelda became known in 1528 when James Carr expressed a wish to be buried in “the church of Gigleswicke of the Holie and Blessed Virgin Saint Alkelda”.
Part of the Anglo-Saxon tomb cover with interlace decoration was set into the floor of the Church of St Mary and St Alkelda, Middleham and you can view my photogrammetry model of it here virtually …
Squeaking Cat 