Ancient Cross. Middle of Nowhere.

In the middle of bleedin' nowhere we find the incredible Bewcastle Cross - the finest Anglian cross in England - considered by Nikolaus Pevsner to be one of the 12 most important historical structures in Britain.
We're looking at the fascinating history of its location on a site spanning Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and through to the Dark Ages.
Two key questions are considered: 1) Why is this fine Anglo Saxon cross here, in such a remote location and so far away from the heartlands of the Northumbrian kingdom? 2) How was it made to such a high quality at a time when this shouldn't have been possible?
As you probably know, broadcaster Phillip Schofield is crazy about Saxon crosses, and this video is a pilot for a new series of videos: Schofield's Saxon Crosses. Please let us know in the comments below if you'd like more of this. Mr. Schofield hasn't been on the telly for a long time now and would appreciate your support.
#bewcastle #northumberland #romanfort #romanbritain #neolithic #bronzeage #ironage #darkages #anglosaxon #anglosaxons #bede #saxon #saxoncross #angliancross #bewcastlemuseum #castle #nikolauspevsner #pevsner
If you would like to support this channel, you can buy us a “coffee” via the link in the About section.
All contributions gratefully received and ploughed back into our productions. Travel costs and equipment - that sort of thing. Occasionally, actual real coffee.
Credits (Where due)
WC21 (UK) Productions Ltd theme tune: Keygenerator - Freesound
Roman Gazette theme tune: 8-bit Win - Velda - Epidemic Sound
For Serious Rambling Hikers & Scramblers theme tune: 514178 danlucas - Freesound
Compendium of Curiosities: Underbelly - Epidemic Sound
Coastal Catalogue theme tune: Just Like Magic - Epidemic Sound
The Time Tunnel theme tune: Micro - Epidemic Sound
Schofield’s Saxon Crosses: Good, Good - Epidemic Sound
The Almanac theme tune: Rush - DJI Mimo
All other music: Epidemic Sound
Main “Broadcaster”: Darren Spratt
Cameras
DJI Pocket 3 Creator Combo
GoPro Hero 12 Creator Edition
DJI Pocket 2 Creator Combo
HoverAir X1

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

It’s a definitely vote for more crosses from me, especially if it persuades you to venture across the North York Moors in pursuit thereof. Such an excellent production, entertaining, witty and informative from beginning to end. Who knew that such interesting objects can be found in the middle of Bleeding Nowhere! Triumphant 👏👏👍😀

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Andrew! That’s good to hear because I really enjoyed researching and making this. What a fabulous site with the wonderful imagery of a church or religious community rising from the ruins of the Roman fort. Fingers crossed it will get a commission!

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd 🤞

[@philcollinson328]

I suggested the north York moors a few weeks ago to MR WC 21, Andrew, mate ..The gent has a smorgasbord to explore therein....Rambling, scrambling, history, TV shows and mumbo jumbo ....I imagine he'll get there one day...Buy him a coffee or three ....gets him awake in the morning :D.

[@bh_486]

I bought a derilect farmhouse, about 1 mile east, up the fell, from Bewcasle, in 1974. Stones in walls of the farmhouse, (it was called a bastle), were robbed from the roman fort - the castle in Bewcasle. The walls were four feet thick on the ground floor. The roof tiles were made from sandstone, the largest stood three feet high. The farmhouse was called 'Woodhead' - it is still there. I later moved even further up the farmtrack to a shooting lodge called High Grains - it is also still there. I would guess it was the most isolated dwelling in England. My farmhouse had no electricity or water. I gathered water from the small stream running down the fell. Whilst I was living there, a party of elderly trekers came over the hill, and one of the elderly ladies told me that she lived there when she was a child (in the 1920's), and that there was a water pipe to a spring about a mile away. High Grains was in excellent condition with running water and electricity. I think the pub was called the Lime Kiln - only frequented by local farmers, run by a seventy years old bachelor. There was a lime kiln, up the fell, nearby. There was a small hut at the bottom of the farm track, which was the post office, open three days a week for a couple of hours in the morning. The wife of the local shepherd was the postmistress.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Oh thank you very much for sharing that - very evocative. The bastles in that area are very interesting, aren’t they? Such a turbulent past. It’s a shame the pub is empty now. I’ve been sent a picture of it and can imagine what it was like. What a great experience you had and thank you for sharing it.

[@philcollinson328]

A fascinating story, thank you so much for sharing it @bh_486

[@jmorin6620]

As an 8% subscriber, I am fascinated by British history, love the Time Team references and am most appreciative of a witty, well-dressed amateur antiquarian! Keep up the good work! You are giving me fodder for my bucket list of places to visit!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

That’s great! One of the most rewarding things about this crazy pastime is hearing that you’ve encouraged a visit. I’d highly recommend Bewcastle - so wonderfully off the beaten track and steeped in history!

[@michaelpeacock6360]

Great video...best yet, informative, witty, eccentric....what's not to like.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Michael - that’s lovely feedback - I really enjoyed researching and making this!

[@MediaFaust]

Brilliant. I just found this channel and two minutes in I realise that a subscription is needed.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

That’s great, thank you and welcome!

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

Well, I have completed a democratic vote amongst all your subscribers in this household and following the count we have voted unanimously that you should be given free reign with the direction of the channel. I've just seen a tweet from Philip and he is complaining about the fact that you haven't supported his 'buy me a coffee'. I'm sure his people will be contacting your people in due course. If you are delving into the history of these Saxon Crosses will you be covering those waymarkers in the future at all? Not of the Roman era but I am fascinated by them. On reflection, probably too niche. I think it is great to be recognised by a subscriber. It hasn't happened to me as yet but I haven't been granted access to the KZbin teleportation app as yet. Another great video Darren. You could sell ice to the Eskimos (one should probably say Inuit, or first nation north pole people, I can never keep up). As for the Army range and 'something about to happen', I wonder if KZbin will exist after WWIII. I best get some more videos out before the tribulation period is upon us. I really enjoy these history lesson and I look forward to them dropping. Thanks for sharing Darren.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks Chris and it looks like this series will be “commissioned”! Hopefully WWIII won’t get in the way! Phillip’s chasing the numbers hard today. I’ll have a chat with him about the waymarkers, but it does seem to specifically be Saxon crosses that he’s nuts about!

[@charliejohn372]

It seems to me, the cross should be taken indoors. We have so many standing stones in Wales that are literally falling apart due to weathering. Good video. Thank you.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Charlie. That’s a really interesting point you make. It’s a dilemma. This one is standing in the same stone plug it was inserted into in the late 8th Century. The other one I mentioned was moved into a church 200 years ago, but they recently removed the scheduling on it because of the lack of risk to it, which seems a bit odd. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@philcollinson328]

I'm not a fan of moving ancient monuments, artefacts, statues, crosses, gravestones ect Charlie. I feel they lose relevance if removed from the place our ancestors intended them to be, for reasons that were that were important enough to them to put them there in the first place. I see no harm in protecting them from the elements with respectful modern knowhow, but leave them where they were meant to be.

[@jakebrookesactor]

Well done. This is the way history should be taught with energy, surprises and levity.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Jake! That is very nice of you to say and I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@jimmycburfield5997]

Another beauty of a video! The 1988/1989 season’s editions of Carlisle United FC match day program, featured photographs of local landmarks. Many people had never seen the Brewcastle cross. For many years I have thought of heading out there. In my 49th year it’s now on my ‘to do list’. Here in the North Country we are Saint Cuthbert mad! In Keswick people also enjoy St Herbert. Cuthbert is bigger than George up here.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Jimmy - so glad you enjoyed it - the Bewcastle Cross surpassed my expectations - it is fantastic. I would like to do some more of these. I’m fascinated by the location of these crosses - there’s often a tantalising link to Roman activity, centuries before. And over here on the west, I’m intrigued by the relationship between the conquering Northumbrians and the Celtic Britons.

[@robertmaitland09]

Reminds me of Rudston monolith standing there on its own in a church graveyard.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Yes indeed! Like Rudston, it’s older than the current church - albeit not by such a huge span of centuries as that!

[@vaguelyright6833]

I'm drunk but still entertained, and informed ... 9/10

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you very much indeed! I may have been slightly worse for wear when I came up with the idea for this video!

[@vaguelyright6833]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd It helped massively. Keep going...

[@tweedyoutdoors]

Very slick! ...and I am not just referring to that very dapper jacket! I do hope "the boss" is pleased with the end result as I thought that was marvellous, you packed a lot of info in there but kept it fun and engaging throughout. I was perpetually doing the sort of chest rumbling giggling which annoys my wife whenever she's sat next to me on the sofa. Thankfully she hasn't got out of bed yet this morning. What a beautiful piece of carving that is, so skilfully captured. Do please pass on my compliments to your camera operator - perhaps there'a whole team of them these days? Although they were keeping you on your toes a bit there by surprising you from all those different angles. Might want to have a word with them about that, lest that sort of gentle ribaldry gets out of hand and starts to affect filming schedules. I think it worked really well doing a big chunk of the narrative from inside the museum, interspersed with the B-roll of the cross, while the elements let loose outside.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Tweedy. Phil, I mean Mr. Schofield, is texting furiously this morning to check how it’s doing - I do hope it succeeds as I wouldn’t want to see him when he’s angry! I was so pleased that I took lots of footage of the cross when I arrived! It was actually stiflingly hot to start with, but once that storm arrived it never recovered. I was so grateful the lovely little museum was open and I enjoyed being on that stage! It is a beautiful and really intriguing cross. I just love sites like that where you’ve got prehistoric, Roman, Dark ages. So many questions. I don’t know if you noticed, but you got a little name check on the map to show you where this is in relation to our wild centurion luncheon!

[@tweedyoutdoors]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Yes I did spot my name flash up there!

[@AdeptHavelock]

​@tweedyoutdoors Just for information, I've checked the latest OS map and as yet the designation "Tweedy's Phallus" has yet to be officially recognised 😂

[@philcollinson328]

@@AdeptHavelock I spotted that on the map too. I decided not to go investigate, discretion being the better part of valour ect.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@AdeptHavelock just to clarify, it’s marking the location of the phallus that Tweedy commented on in Tweedy’s Roman Wild Luncheon, when he visited Hadrian’s Wall! Just to avoid any embarrassment or alarm!

[@garrymartin6474]

In the case of a chap who played football for Sheffield United who had surname was Waugh it was pronounced Warr. I enjoyed the video so I would happily watch more with the same or similar themes .

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you. Yes I think “Warr” might be right. Fascinating link from the past there!

[@philroberts7238]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd As in Evelyn Waugh, for example, the High Tory, High Catholic, very arrogant (but very funny) writer. Or the late Auberon Waugh, come to that, his son and sometime journalist.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@philroberts7238 yes I really should have thought about these people. I spoke to someone in the village and they said “wuff” - maybe they were setting me up? That’s happened before!

[@liberty_and_justice67]

Thanks! I enjoy seeing parts of UK never considered visiting, until now . Well presented🎉

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you very much. I know I’ve recommended quite a few places to you now, but I really would encourage you to check this area out - it is so quiet and steeped in history.

[@eddavis1832]

Educational, entertaining, and lovely to view…you’ve achieved the KZbin Trifecta! Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us…Cheers!!! 🍻

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Ed! Couldn’t ask for nicer feedback. Like that term, “Trifecta”!

[@lpeterman]

Not going to weigh in on the names, history or various theories; will only say as a North American with DEEP UK roots, I thoroughly enjoy your rambles and Amateur Antiquarian Adventures in the wilds of Northern Britain. Crosses? Romans? Normans? Production subject doesn't matter, keep 'em coming. Cheers! and a thumbs up from the Willamette Valley of the Oregon Country

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you kindly! Your encouragement is very much appreciated!

[@janecapon2337]

“Just three days to find out”…. Tony Robinson from Time Team enters the room! 2:11

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Ha! Yes I got a bit confused there! Accidentally revealing my inspiration!

[@frenchfriar]

Greetings from Tennessee! I loved watching this epusode, and learning about the Bewcastle Cross. The Roman history, the graveyard, the cross, and the church. So much well preserved history there. Interestingly, I've known same Waughs. Great people. I'd love for you to show more of Mr Schofield's crosses. Well, not his, particularly, but you know what I meant. I would like to praise your camera work: you show everything off really well, and the cross, especially, which has to be a difficult photographic sibject, looked fantastic. And I could only aspire to your sense of style. Well done, sir, as always.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you very much for such generous feedback and I’m particularly pleased to hear that I managed to capture something of the beauty of this cross - it really is a special survival. I’ve had another viewer from America who knows a Waugh - so they do seem to have travelled far and wide. Interesting that they still carry the name awarded them by the Angles! Some more crosses lined up for future videos!

[@JimBagby74]

​@@WC21UKProductionsLtdthat makes two Tennessean viewers!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@JimBagby74 WC21 (UK) Productions Ltd seems to be sweeping across Tennessee! That’s great!

[@philcollinson328]

My mother's side of the family are Washington (Yes, of the first U.S President heritage) and the other side of her family are Waugh ...but they pronounce their name phonetically as 'Woff'...Strange..but I suppose their name is up to them. Good day Tennessee, hope you have a great day.

[@roberthodgins8856]

Thanks this was a fun watch.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Cheers Robert - glad you enjoyed it.

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Darren, I loved your woefully out of date map, I have a couple of maps of a similar age (think mine are 1930s) they would be ok in the countryside but well out of date in Portsmouth where at that time motorways hadn't yet been invented. This Phillip chap appeared to crop up an awful lot in today's video. I seem to remember him from years ago on children's TV, is he relaunching himself as an antiquarian? I think the subject needs no "celebrity" introduction whatsoever. Today's example was magnificent, imagine what it was like when complete with the cross. It made it all the more worthwhile being in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps the playlist name should be "in the middle of bleedin' nowhere" Now if the Roman Fort was called Cocido instead of Cocidi, then this would have been a marvelous place to eat as it would have been the source of the most emblematic dish served in Spain, Cocido Madrileño, a stew of several different cuts of meat with chickpeas and other vegetables, (from Madrid) lots of different variants, there must be a vegetarian one too,. But alass it wasn't and plunged Britain into a culinary dark age from which we only really emerged when Bernard Mathews invented the Turkey Roll ........ These timeline jumps are starting to concern me, whilst it might be unlikely that in the depths of an English Summer (ahem ... winter) you come across a fly, imagine if you did and what the consequences might be .... maybe even the KZbin film library would be unable to help??!! Very much enjoyed the walk across the old ramparts and seeing the remains of the castle and it just got better when you got to the church it's museum and cross (did you miss a chance to burst into song in that stage?). I think it's quite likely that those masons might have also made this cross, perhaps it was an unfinished apprentice piece, perhaps they provided the inspiration for others? As for the outro, one of you is finished, and the other has a bright future ahead, the future is written in Tweed ...... All the best!!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks David. I have been thinking about alternative names if things go the wrong way with Mr. Schofield. After scandals, he’s been off the telly for over a year and I thought this might be his way back, but his expectations are so high! You’re right about meddling with time. It’s a risky business. KZbin make you sign a disclaimer, you know…. Interesting to see that similar word turning up as a dish in Spain. I wonder if there’s some horrendously complicated link back in the mists of time!

[@violetmoonofthenorth]

Lovely video thank, you so much ✨

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

My pleasure and thank you very much.

[@philcollinson328]

Thanks🥳

[@standingbadger]

What an amazing cross! Thanks to you and Phil (I hope he bought you a coffee for your efforts at the very least) for bringing this to our attention and more of this please.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you and really glad you enjoyed it - I had such fun with this one and I’m fascinated by these crosses. As with this one, there’s often an intriguing gap between Roman activity and the planting of a cross. Fingers crossed this one will do well - I really don’t want to got on the wrong side of Schofield!

[@philcollinson328]

At least one Phil did haha...

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@philcollinson328 🤣

[@philcollinson328]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd A few years ago you used to be a bit put off by 1 idiot who used to dislike your content ...12K positive plus viewers on, you likely look back and laugh. No Phil's were hurt in the making of this vid. All the best to Eric at N Arnison and sons LTD

[@philcollinson328]

Edited to add the ad' sorry.

[@levitation25]

From a cross in the middle of nowhere to a cross that was somewhere but is now nowhere. There was an ancient stone cross on the outskirts of the original town of Liverpool on a hill overlooking the pool of Liverpool that was named St. Patrick's Cross. Legends associated it with the travels of St Patrick but it's more likely that Irishmen/Hiberno-Normans made it during the Middle Ages. No drawings or descriptions of it survive nor information about its origins except for the St. Patrick legends. Liverpool was founded as a port to support Norman interests in Ireland. The Normans in Ireland later embraced Irish culture so their influence both sides of the Irish Sea could explain why there was a St. Patrick's Cross in Liverpool. The cross was in poor condition in the late 18th century and disappeared around the time the road was being improved. It appears on old maps and one road nearby was called St. Patrick's Hill. It's a fascinating mystery.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Oh wow that sounds like a really interesting antiquarian challenge. I enjoyed my recent filming in Liverpool, I’d love to come back and find that cross. Sadly, chances are it ended up under that road. St. Patrick is a very interesting character too!

[@levitation25]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd More information on Merseyside Biography Pages site see the page on Saint Patrick's Cross Liverpool.

[@levitation25]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Some people confuse the location where the cross stood. It was on the corner of Tithebarn Street and Vauxhall Road. A few minutes from this location is a site in Standish Street with a plaque and other stuff about the cross and the legends. The cross was not actually in Standish Street, some people assume it was there, it was at the now busy crossroads at the corner of Tithebarn Street and Vauxhall Road.

[@davewolfy2906]

Splendid.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Cheers Dave!

[@sonsoffalstaff2600]

Very interesting as usual. Always a pleasure.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you kindly! Glad you enjoyed it - a beauty that cross!

[@sonsoffalstaff2600]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd I may well be up in Brampton in a week. I'll make time to visit it. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@sonsoffalstaff2600 you won’t be disappointed and that little museum is a wonderful thing too!

[@kathleenrobinson1847]

Thanks!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you kindly. Cheers.

[@janecapon2337]

I really love it when you magically jump to Bew Castle. I would appreciate lessons on how you do that…

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

It takes some practice, but sometimes it just happens when you don’t want it to. It played havoc with the shopping last week!

[@philcollinson328]

I tried it once, ended up back a week ago at the dentist's. Leave it to the experts Jane.

[@hainanbob6144]

Any playlist will do me, nice video!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you! Looks like it might get “commissioned”!

[@jonwolff8222]

First time to your channel and I really enjoyed it! That cross is amazing. Ancient historical artifacts like that must be so common there that no one considers protecting them from the elements. Boggles the mind!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks Jon - really glad you enjoyed it. I was blown away by the quality of the cross, to be honest. There is a lot of survival in this area, despite it being lawless and ravaged for centuries. But even to this day, it remains sparsely populated, and I guess that helps to account for the incredible array of pre-historic, Roman, Celtic and Anglo Saxon artifacts exist and continue to be turned up. It's an antiquarian's dream!

[@jonwolff8222]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd I grew up in the Southwest US and often came across ancient Indian ruins in the mesas. Later, I lived near Mesa Verde, and I thought as I watched your video, about how that cross was already old when the Anasazi built the cliff dwellings!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@jonwolff8222 yes, history can be very grounding like that!

[@philcollinson328]

Totally random comment that may hit a point with MR WC 21 ....I used to love sitting watching Time team with my kids ..then my grandkids ....I was utterly devastated when Mr Robin Bush passed away. I stuck with it until the series producers decided to try and solely attract younger viewers, disengaging the fact most of their viewers were of an age where parents were hoping to teach their kids history is fun. Thanks to Mr WC 21 for reintroducing the lesson that history is fun..

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

That was season 19, I think. Helen was pushed out and they brought in Mary Ann and that other guy who basically did what Stuart did. It resulted in Mick leaving. To be fair, in the following year they got rid of the 2 new presenters and Francis stepped in to replace Mick. It did feel more like the old Time Team again, but the writing was on the wall. Have you watched the new Time Team on KZbin? It has been updated and you do feel the absence of Mick, Francis, Phil and Tony Robinson, but there are a good few old faces there - including Helen. I quite like the way they do the 3 day format over 3 days on KZbin. Tony seems to be getting a bit more involved too. It's worth checking out.

[@philcollinson328]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Meh I do Patreon for them..I'd far rather support you more though.

[@philcollinson328]

Mick, Francis, Phil, Robin and Victor were Time team to me.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@philcollinson328 oh that’s very kind of you to say. I don’t support them on Patreon, but I do watch the 3 day digs. Tend to not bother with all the other guff!

[@philcollinson328]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Regardless ..it seems you have another hit on your hands...Well played sir.

[@robinterrycomposer103]

I very much enjoyed your video of the Bewcastle Cross, castle and fort. I remember going there many years ago, driving along very narrow roads in desolate country to get there. I'm pretty sure there was no museum at the time, and yes, it was raining. Please do a video on the Ruthwell Cross, as I didn't get to go there. However, if you do, please pronounce it "Rooth-all" as the locals do 😉

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks Robin - very nice feedback and I’m sure I will do Ruthwell. I appreciate that insight into the pronunciation very much. Will be interesting to see how similar, or not, the carving is.

[@Peter-lm3ic]

Being interested in Anglo Saxon history the thought occurred that might it be that Bewcastle once had been on a trade route across a relatively narrow neck of England to save a long and treacherous sea journey around Scotland particularly in winter. As an example the trade in humans from Ireland and vice versa thro' Bewcastle to link up with the Roman road system much used by the Anglo Saxons? Bewcastle must have been very important in its day to have such a beautiful Holy Cross carved and installed. I enjoyed this program and I am out to view more and thanks for the Roman and Norman background to Bewcastle!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Peter and I will definitely do more on these - I really enjoyed researching and filming this. Interestingly, they have never found any evidence of a Roman road heading north from the fort - there's just the one road connecting it to the wall at Banna/Birdoswald. In its Roman heyday it was a cul-de-sac, effectively. My surmise would be that some kind of activity carried on here - as it did at Birdoswald, where we think the Roman military unit effectively became the lords of the local area once the money stopped coming. That carried on there into the early 500s - so a century after the end of Roman Britain. I suspect some kind of Romano-British Christian church or community set up in the remains of Fanum Cocidi, and possibly carried on through to the arrival of this cross in the 7th Century. I'm sure that 350 years after the Roman army left there would have still been fairly substantive stone built remains there. It's a fascinating period!

[@chrish5319]

Loved this new adventure. Was uncertain of the Schofield references, but then you young people have tropes and memes from a different milieu to mine. At the end I thought you were talking about 12 Scovilles and wondered if it was a reference to the lack of heat in the weather. As I was watching "..sparsely populated and quite poor" went immediately into an advertisement for a 5 star hotel which pleased my sense of the absurd. Please keep these coming, love almost anything on the not-Dark ages.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks Chris. For your peace of mind, the Schofield thing is pure nonsense! I just like the idea of him teaming up with a nobody KZbinr as a way to get back on the telly. (He was a famous broadcaster for 30 years, but fell from grace a year or so ago). Thanks as ever for your support.

[@philcollinson328]

Schofield's career went downhill after he broke up his broadcasting relationship with Roland. (Hope that helps). Roland eventually ratted him out.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Wasn’t it a Gopher with Phillip? I could very well be wrong!

[@philcollinson328]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Yes it was, I stand corrected ..Gordon was his name.

[@philcollinson328]

For some reason I was thinking of Roland Rat.

[@squinkque]

I did not know that Waugh was the Anglo-Saxon term for the Welsh, which is what they called all the Celts. Interesting. I did learn something. As well I also had to look up who this Philip Schofield character was.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you. Fascinating that the name is still there as a surname, isn’t it? Mr. Schofield used to be very famous. He’s desperate for this new series to be a success and hopes it will get him back on the telly!

[@squinkque]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd I knew a girl w/the last name of Waugh here in North Dakota, US., so they've definitely roamed afar from Bew Castle.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@squinkque that is amazing, isn’t it?! With that surname, her ancient ancestors were almost certainly Celtic/Romano-Britons and the incoming English badged them as such!

[@philcollinson328]

Despite being in the middle of nowhere, the surroundings are stunning. Nice place to live I suppose, as long as you don't mind a long commute to get the groceries in. Although I enjoy all things Roman, ancient stone crosses as well rune stones fascinate me. So much history is missing from the records after the last Roman to leave Britain turned out the lights. Hence the term dark ages. I'll get my coat for that Dad 'joke'' just there.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks Phil and glad you enjoyed it. I got a real buzz out of filming this. Like you, the Dark Ages just draw me in. I want to know what happened there in the three and a bit centuries after the Romans left and those English turned up to plant that exquisite cross! (Dad joke noted and stored for potential reuse).

[@robertcroser7446]

Take it from me it's a beautiful place to live.....I don't know these southeners invading my back yard 😂😂

[@philcollinson328]

@@robertcroser7446 They're generally harmless mate...Especially those dressed in smart tweed.

[@thomas05ish]

Great video as usual. Your style of history presentation should be shown to school pupils who think history is boring. Thanks for mentioning Arnison’s of Penrith . I can confirm that you were not paid for the plug ! Looking forward to future videos.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Hi Eric - no problem, it's a fantastic shop and long may it prosper! Thank you and glad you enjoyed.

[@jenniferharrison4319]

Super informative video, thanks. Think l will put that on my bucket list. Love out of the way places where you can probably walk for miles without seeing anyone.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Jennifer! Yes do check it out - wonderful place where you can feel all that history! That little museum being there is just fantastic too!

[@davemc9268]

Great video. My favourite cross though is Ella Cross on Fylingdales Moor in N.Yorks.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Dave. Appreciate the tip, I’ll pop that on the list. Assuming this series gets commissioned! Cheers.

[@jamestregler1584]

Very interesting ; thanks from old New Orleans 😇 !

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you very much - glad you enjoyed it.

[@MattMesserPics]

I'm beginning to sound like a broken record: Amazing, mate, you are going from strength to strength! That decision of yours to sell the day to day business would have scared the pants off me, but it looks like us, the youtube community, are definitely profiting. Perhaps the presence of this cross, the craftsmanship of which looks outlandish for the time, shows us exactly that (as you kind of suggested): It is outlandish. It shows that there was much more exchange of culture, skills, goods, across the entire Mediterranean world (and I include the British isles here, remember, we are talking about pre-Brexit times) than we usually give our ancestors credit for. So, yes, please give us more of the Blofeld (or whatever the name was) stuff!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you! Really appreciate your encouragement. Yes, I think part of why “experts” have been so astonished by this work is that they simply assume there was little to no cross pollination of ideas at this time. They are obviously wrong. This Mediterranean style has been found in France and Ireland too. Same sort of period. It is rather wonderful that it got to this remote corner of Britain though. What on earth did the Celtic Britons make of it?!

[@Revoe_Lad]

Awesome video

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Cheers! Thank you very much and glad you enjoyed it!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you very much and glad you enjoyed it!

[@smallsleepyrascalcat]

I'M a stone mason by profession, what do you think I think about these crosses. I love them!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Well that’s very interesting to hear. I thought it was stunning and could see why Pevsner rated it so highly. Fascinating that this quality of workmanship ended up in a remote corner of England in the 7th Century!

[@AdeptHavelock]

Yet another brilliantly researched, scripted (?), filmed and edited historical Vlog Darren! Your productions really are top-notch. You've got a presentation style that genuinely is making me regret my choice of 'O'-level options in 1978/9, where I chose Geography over History. 😂 (Another vote for the SSC series from me btw)

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you so much - it is really encouraging to receive such feedback. I have my regrets too. I did History to A Level and then decided to waste 35 years of my life in the hollow corporate world! These videos are very much a case of me making up for lost time!

[@christskingdomiscoming5964]

This "statement of dominance" theory completely overlooks the obvious, namely that it was built by the Celts! king/Saint Oswald (604-642 AD) was exiled in the Kingdom of Dal Riata (Scotland) as a youth where he converted to Christianity. On becoming King he converted his Kingdom to Christianity, making it the first Anglo Saxon kingdom to become Christian. The form of Christianity he adopted was Celtic, bringing in Irish and Scottish monks and clergy. The Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Durrow are decorated in the 'Irish' style, that is to say not Pictish nor Scandinavian in style, both of which produced similar but distinct art. The complex interwoven knotwork does ultimately originate in Egypt and Syria and was likely copied from the Dysart Father's of North Africa whom the Irish monks fashioned themselves. However the style was further devoped by the Celtic monks who added to it creating the style we see on this cross and others like it, it is disingenuous to miss out the Celtic part of this liniages story. The level of sophistication found in the Bewcastle Cross can be found in similar examples in Ireland and Scotland from this period and earlier. Since the Celtic Christian model was that adopted in Northumberland, it is most likely that the artisans employed were Celtic or at the very least trained by them using their stylistic devices. As for the placement, it is likely constructed in an area that was of great significance in pagan times, thats meaing has been largely lost to us now. So if any "statement of dominance"was being made, it was of Christianity over the Pagan religion, and not one people over another. The Bewcastle Cross is one of many Celtic Crosses of this era, the fact it was built in England can be explained by the Celtic Churches influence on Northumbrian religion and explains why this cross is an anomaly amongst other English crosses of the period in both age and sophistication.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you. I am going to do a follow up video and will include this in it. Many thanks.

[@LAURAPHILBIN-tc9gj]

I just found you and I love it

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

That’s great Laura and welcome! I’m delighted the mighty algorithm steered you here. Thank you!

[@keithm603]

I'm hearing rumblings in the valleys of Wessex.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Yes Keith, I’m waiting for it to all kick off!

[@dwbunloaf8245]

I’m so glad the “all powerful algorithm” pointed you out to me, I do like a bit of history and this channel is excellent. A definite subscribe from me. Thank you.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

That’s great and good to hear the wretched algorithm is working! Welcome and thank you very much for subscribing.

[@philcollinson328]

@dwbunloaf8245 A very sound choice, go back and enjoy Mr WC 21's back catalogue too.

[@kevinyorkshire5173]

You should check out the three Saxon crosses at All Saints Church, Ilkley, West Yorkshire. They're inside the church nowadays, so you need to check when it's open. There are also Saxon cross fragments in the church in Thornhill, Dewsbury, but I've never managed to get in the place, locked up tightly when I visited in the past.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Kevin! Really appreciate the suggestion and will look into that. When I filmed a Roman Gazette there last year, the church was locked - there’s some Roman stuff in there too, I believe.

[@acm01864]

The broken pieces are somewhere in site! They knew it would break too slender and high! 😊

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

That’s a really good point! There is a recreation of this cross elsewhere and the cross is tiny - nothing like the one depicted in the museum! I’m going to pop a picture of it in the Community tab in the next day or so.

[@gibjamie]

The quality of the carving would hint at the master masons from Gaul theory is probably correct! But the Earlier dates do fit within the timeline of Cuthberts life and career so might also suggest some earlier connection than the dedicated Church! Is there any info about as to when the top of the cross was lopped off? Obviously it'd be very easy and probably correct to blame invading Pagan Danes with a penchant for a bit of destruction but i could just be jumping to ill founded conclusions! Not sure you'll get the 50K likes P.S is demanding but that doesn't mean you don't deserve them. Greatly enjoyable stuff once again ,well done

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you. I tried to find out about the loss of the cross on the top, but couldn’t find anything. I suspect it was lost a long time ago and you might well be right about who to blame. Some of these crosses were destroyed in the Civil War, but there’s usually a record of that if that’s the case. Mr. S is texting like mad today to see how the video is doing. I’m feeling the pressure!

[@barryconway]

Most excellent and thoroughly entertaining. I was paying attention (St. Cuthbert), but I’m not sure that I grocer the inclusion of Philip Schofield. I’ll rewatch it, sorry. Disbarred = excluded? Works for me. Carry on. Oh, and all those Saxon Kings and Queens: you’re just making those names up, right. St. Cuthbert. I’m never going to forget it now. Drat.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Barry! It’s a little known fact that Phillip Schofield is nuts about Saxon crosses! He’s desperate to get back on telly and saw this as a potential vehicle!

[@barryconway]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd excellent. history, mystery and little known facts. could you not source a tweed umbrella?

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@barryconway yes they do make them, but they’re a modern thing. I try not to wear anything that would be anachronistic in 1935. For some reason!

[@barryconway]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtdbut you could gift one to The Tweedy of Wine and Ditch Cooking (o;

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@barryconway that's his Christmas present sorted then!

[@yannmaenden7236]

Some of that carving on the cross looks very Celtic to me. It's possible that it existed pre-Saxon arrival and was altered.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

That’s an interesting point. Some do think the sundial was a later addition, for instance. A real mystery. Thank you.

[@AllotmentFox]

Another Iron Age British god. I was going to ask you to go in search of him, there is also a carving on a rock of him somewhere up north. Northern he is, so I won’t find him down here. The two different styles (knotwork, runes and Romanesque vine-work) jar for me. It is clearly a professional job and impresses that it exists at all but doesn’t hit the top flight for me because of the failure to marry the two styles. There are other Romanesque A-S carvings, my favourite being Inglesham church near Lechlade. The V&A has a lot of delicate Romanesque carving. The carving of Coccidius was the most exciting bit. I suspect a cease-and-desist letter is on its way, poor Phillip! I enjoyed it

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

I know exactly where that Cocidus carving is and was gazing at the map the other night. It’s a wonderful Romano-British rendering. Trouble is, it’s miles off the track with no public access. I think the land is owned by the military. I will get there one day, somehow. In the meantime, I may have another…. Mrs. WC21 (UK) Productions Ltd also said I’m going to get a letter. I’m thinking more positively. I reckon he’ll be appearing in person by the third episode! Thank you for watching and I’m glad you enjoyed it. Also interesting to hear your take on the artistry too.

[@AllotmentFox]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd it being trespass might be a problem for me having gone on the record frowning, sometimes tutting, maybe even waggling a disapproving finger at such a prospect but I understand that you take a more nuanced position. My point is, if you are going to do it, do it for an awesome reason, I want to see the footage. Is it true that it is red like the god?

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@AllotmentFox I wouldn’t trespass - I’d be terrified! It would entail something like 6 miles trespass into moorland where they might be shelling! I need to find out if there’s anyway of getting permission. I have heard the thing about it being red, but I’m also choking to see the small, adapted cave/shelter that it makes the entrance to - believed to have been used as some kind of altar. It’s about a mile’s walk from a Roman road in what must have been bleak territory then, so it’s very intriguing!

[@chrisball3778]

You mean you could have completely legitimately put 'The Lost Fortress of the Red God' in the title? And you didn't? The ghost of Robert E. Howard is rattling his typewriter keys in rage. That cross is legitimately amazing, though. If Philip knows any others even nearly as good as that, it'd definitely be worth learning to adapt to his idiosyncratic working methods.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Do you offer your services as a title writer - I did miss a trick there! I have more planned with Cocidus though, so you might see this idea lifted soon! Thank you!

[@davidneal6920]

Interesting thank you 🇬🇧 🇳🇿

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you David - glad you enjoyed it.

[@dawheel5791]

All the girls go crazy for a sharp dressed Man, Nice from an Anglophile in Maine uSA

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you very much! That has made an old geezer’s day! Looks like the 8% is going up too. Thank you and welcome.

[@philcollinson328]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd You Adonis you, Mr WC21...Move aside the Beatles ..antiquarians will storm the U.S.

[@frankschlanker]

The middle of nowhere is someones paradise

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

And the middle of nowhere also enables things like this to survive. Making it a paradise for folks like me!

[@jbos5107]

I predict that if you post it, subscribers will come. Silly but lots of fun!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you. This one seems to have done quite well so far. The mystery of the algorithm! Is it the Phillip Schofield connection?!

[@jbos5107]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd It could be your great sci-fi effects, or it's just Phil.

[@philcollinson328]

13k plus views now? Mr WC 21 (UK) Ltd is showing off a bit . Haha....really well done mate.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Cheers Phil! This has our highest views to date. Really made up - the BBC has got to notice me soon?! Cheers for the Super Thanks!

[@philcollinson328]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Well the BEEB are odd types ..Channel 4 must notice you soon. Haha.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@philcollinson328 they’d do!

[@jimmycburfield5997]

BTW! More cross videos please

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

I will do. This seems to be getting a thumbs up!

[@Ribeirasacra]

Why was Phil cross? I am surprised you did not bump into Maddy Prior in her arts centre. I like your style of presenting. Something in there of the great Keith Floyd.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Well thank you very much indeed - that is high praise and I'm deeply flattered to be compared to Keith. I only met one other person there. A lady from Devon visiting her son who farms nearby. Such a wonderfully quiet place. Phil seems a bit erratic and volatile at the moment. I think he sees this as a path back onto the telly!

[@philcollinson328]

I often am....I accidentally stood in duck poo today whilst wearing my socks... Oh, you meant Schofield Phil ...I don't know...maybe he stood in duck poo in his socks today too.

[@kevinbennington887]

The location of the stone is what is important, it is one of the geometry locations that the church is FITTED to, basically there is a detectable matrix that NEVER moves and thus supplies divine perfect measure to construct to, the so called Roman fort will be surmounted upon the origonal henge that was built for the self same reason as the church, that is as an accumulator of the local duality flows of consciousness, which is described in the carvings on the stone.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks Kevin. Really interesting. I understand they have found Neolithic and Bronze Age evidence on the natural platform the Romans built their fort on, so this small area has drawn humans to it for thousands of years.

[@kevinbennington887]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd The cross location will be one of 4'6'8'10' or 12 such points about the church that determines the church dimensions, the more such points leads to larger churches and then cathedrals, it is normally just the southern cross location left where so called preachers crosses are located., ALL churches are built over megalithic locations and they do not face East/West they align to the matrix that leads to them been been across 86 degrees to 94 degrees and the different alignments relate to them been called such as St Mary or Michael etc, there is a link on Brit arch where a man has been to every church with a large compass and taken the bearings. ( churches face East don't they?)

[@JimBagby74]

What means you, sir, by your reference to Americans and maths? What means you indeed! Anyway, from maths to grammar- Someday you should make a video about the WC21 (UK) Productions, Limited Glossary of KZbin Terminology. A “Lingua YouTuba” of sorts. My favorite- “MumboJumboist”. I thought I’d come up with that but no, it’s a WC21(UK) Productions Limited Original.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Hi Jim - you’re part of that 8% of course! I note it’s shot up to 10.6% on the back of this video. I’m fascinated by the differences between spoken English here and English in America. The use of “math” singular is one of those things!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

I’m quite pleased with “Mumbo Jumboist”. It’s good to add something to the plethora of awful KZbin expressions!

[@martinwall502]

By a supreme coincidence, I've just read RH Hodgkin's Anglo-Saxon history where this cross is reproduced! Spooky ...

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Hi Martin, how odd! It’s such a fine cross it lends itself to illustration, I guess. However, it’s not really typical! Thank you for watching and hopefully it was good to see it in the stone!

[@callanist]

Enjoyed prog. But who is Phillip Schofield and what's he got to do with the price of fish .... ?

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you and glad you enjoyed it! Phillip Schofield is a longstanding, but now disgraced British broadcaster who has been off the telly for a year. The joke is that he’s got an entirely unexpected interest in Saxon crosses, and equally unlikely, he sees this channel as his way back to the big time!

[@gordonmculloch4904]

👍

[@Revoe_Lad]

I’ve seen a similar carving from the 6th century in Lancashire and a Viking grave stone. I have a video on it on my channel.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Oh cheers - I will have a look at that. They’re such an insight into the Dark Ages.

[@redf7209]

Years ago I saw a ancient cross, the (upper bit) in someones garage that they found on their farm. Don't believe it was ever reported anywhere.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Oh strewth! There must have been so much of that over the centuries, mustn’t there?

[@redf7209]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd If you read the book the Debatable lands, It refers to quite a bit of wilful destruction by farmers in that loose area.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Oh yes that is an excellent book. I read it a few years back and intend to make a video on the subject at some stage.

[@jointgib]

like it

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you very much!

[@davidhowe6905]

Thanks! Love anything Anglo-Saxon; crosses, churches ... hmm ... maybe not swear words so much!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you David! Sorry about the cussing. It’s the pressure I’m feeling from my new business partner. The bleeper went a bit out of sync!

[@davidhowe6905]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd 😀Sorry, wasn't thinking of your cussing, which was mild as I recall! I was just mentally listing things 'anglo-saxon' and that suddenly occurred to me!

[@philcollinson328]

@@davidhowe6905 Never meet a Geordie David 🤣

[@jchan5000]

I'm in the 8%!!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Hello! I wondered who it was! Welcome!

[@lablackzed]

Love this channel but told you ages ago you need to get some merchantdiseing out T shirts mugs key rings computer mats stickers etc 🤔😳👍

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you and yes you did! I do have something planned along those lines, just juggling stuff right now. You’re right to chase - thank you!

[@philcollinson328]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd And be chased more ..I agree with @lablackzed...but only when time allows, sir.

[@user-ce8ut8hr9k]

It's pronounced similar to war, as in Evelyn Waugh.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Oh of course - I should have thought of that! I did speak to someone near the church and they said, “Wuff”, but they may have been setting me up, I guess!

[@eldraque4556]

fun

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you and glad you enjoyed it!

[@PaulTimlett]

What have the Romans ever done for us? OK apart from railways - what have they ever done for us? This is the second time in a week I've seen Roman Station written on a map.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Yes, a slightly old school antiquarian term! But it was an old school map, to be honest! Thanks Paul.

[@PaulTimlett]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd I saw the other one on the OS Maps app! By a disused railway line in West Sussex. I put it to that young Whitewick fellow that this was proof the Romans invented railways but he was having none of it.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Didn’t he do a video about that once?! Oh no, it was about this idea that they invented the narrow gauge width, or something.

[@PaulTimlett]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Yes. Calls himself an expert. Clueless. We all know narrow gauge was invented in the Dark Ages.

[@atrampinthehills.841]

I am wondering what happened to the head of the cross?...someone must know where it is

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

I know Steve - frustrating. I tried to find out but it seems to have been missing for yonks. Often you can blame the Civil War, but it looks like it was gone then. Probably Vikings!

[@philcollinson328]

I imagine it fell off during some ancient storm and was carted off as a perfect fire mantle for some old longhouse somewhere.

[@__logan__duvalier__]

who broke the top off ? was it done by Scottish marauders or local pagans !

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

It was either that lot or parliamentarians I’d say! Bit of a shame, but it remains a fantastic monument to those intriguing centuries after the Romans left!

[@__logan__duvalier__]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd has the source of the stone used for the cross been located ? this could provide a valuable insight into who made it

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@__logan__duvalier__ I couldn’t find anything on that - I suspect it was destroyed a long time ago. There’s normally a record if the damage happened during the Civil War. It would help if we could see the top.

[@__logan__duvalier__]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd I was thinking more of the analysis method used that determined where the original location of stone henge was situated ?

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@__logan__duvalier__ oh sorry, yes I get you. To my knowledge no such analysis has been done, but it would indeed be very illuminating to understand if it was carved there using the local rock, or not…

[@gozitan5]

You’re in Bewcastle

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Yes indeed and what a lovely place it is.

[@alistairmackinnon4216]

Ahhh.. Northumbria before the invention of England.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Yes indeed. No Scotland either when this cross was erected!

[@alistairmackinnon4216]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Yes and meanwhile all the monks under the Irish Tradition, mainly from the North, bringing Christianity to England before it was invented.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@alistairmackinnon4216 the Mediterranean styling of the cross can be found in Ireland too. So absolutely, this was coming in from the north!

[@DadgeCity]

Segue is pronounced "segway" but I suppose you could be doing it on purpose.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

It’s one of those infuriating “KZbin” expressions I’ve heard elsewhere. To “seque” - what a load of nonsense! My pet favourite is, “I’ll bring you back in a bit”!

[@DadgeCity]

Great video, btw

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@DadgeCity thank you - really glad you enjoyed it. Fun to make!

[@davewatson309]

So Cocid(us) would be Cochedd in modern Welsh redness, or all the reds maybe. Also modern archeologists could take a tiny sample and tell if the stone was local or shipped there. The area came under Northumbrian control by marriage not conquest and at the fall of Northumbria to the Vikings came back under Cumbrian control.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks Dave. That’s really interesting about the modern Welsh. Yes, control of Cumbria through the Dark Ages (I still use the term) is very interesting with lots of change. I think I’m right in saying that it even took 25 years for it to come under Norman control.

[@valeriebrown6079]

Too many inaccuracies about Scottish history for me to continue watching.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

No worries. It was just a joke about Scotland being invented, an ongoing joke with some subscribers.

[@valeriebrown6079]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd I was thinking of the date you gave for the Union. You were a hundred years too early. In 1603 James VI was offered the crown of England and he accepted it becoming James I in your country. Because England allowed a monarch to have much more power over the people than we allowed them to have in Scotland, the greedy so and so moved down to London and hardly visited Scotland again. Our Parliament remained in force until 1706 when the Act of Union closed it. A large reason why the Act of Union was enforced on Scotland was because we had passed an inheritance law saying we would look for our king or Queen after Anne to be a Stewart but not the one England chose. You might also find a number of ancient but still extant, laws on the Scottish statute book interesting as they protect the rights of the ‘community of the realm’, meaning the everyday folk from injustice, profiteering and having their religion changed. These are similar to the Constitution of the USA but were passed in Scotland in the mid to late 1400s and collected together in our ‘Claim of Right’ in the mid to late 1600s. Fascinating stuff.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@valeriebrown6079 - I have checked and you are correct, I did say “Act of Union”, but I meant to say “Union of the Crowns”, which is the term used to describe the ascension to the throne of England by James VI of Scotland. I am really sorry about this cock-up.

[@Paulftate]

Don't see any livestock

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

You’re right! I’m sure there’s no rustling going on there now, but there certainly was in the days of the Debatable Lands. Thank you for watching.

[@user-xk9it5uy1j]

Scotland existed as a nation State before England, sending monks from Iona to civilise the pagans.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks. And neither Scotland nor England existed when this amazing cross was erected. Fascinating to think about that, isn't it?

[@richardevppro3980]

Hiya everyone, I just found this documentary by accident and loved it, thank you and subbed plus liked and checking out the video list. I do hope Mr Shcofield does not mind me joining. 🫠🤟

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Welcome Richard! Really glad you liked it and Mr. Schofield is too - he’s in a good mood today!