How I Solved an English Medieval Mystery!

[@Michael-ln7us]

Great video, I live in Australia now and love it but I sure do miss the history, old buildings and all those gorgeous market towns and villages

[@oliverstratton2231]

Thanks for an interesting and nicely filmed video. Hope you're enjoying UK.

[@Annie-m1h3y]

Mystery solved!!😁. Thanks for all the work you put into that. Really interesting 😁. I think I preferred Oxted before the railway line turned up!! Thanks Rob❤️

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ThatsHimThere]

Thanks mate That was very enjoyable I particularly liked listening to the English bird song in the church yard Lovely sounding little birds

[@walkaboutwithrob]

There's such a gentleness to the English countryside one doesn't experience in Australia. Each are beautiful though in their own right. But yes, the bird sounds here are rather beguiling.

[@ManuelPerez-ip4bb]

A bit like Marlborough north of Rockhampton, it was shifted from a flood zone to next to the then northern railway, a move of more than 10 km's.

[@Mike_Hoffmann]

It's like Time Team without the test pits. Excellent video Rob.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Thanks! Me and Time Team in the same comment!

[@trudiswanson9855]

Excellent presentation Rob. I thoroughly enjoyed it and sincerely appreciate your research. Beautiful buildings! Thanks Rob. Cheers.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Thank you!

[@harryscarry6064]

I love your showing maps. Really entertaining. Cheers

[@DonnaMaree-k3q]

I absolutely loved it! There is so much of what you're doing that is what I have only begun to do but you go extremely deep - which is very interesting to find out the results. I am researching my ancestors 'on location' in UK & Australia (EU is not forgotten) and am loving it - just wish I had more time. So much to see - so much to do. Last year I travelled twice to the UK and had a retired archaeologist help me in Bath (brilliant!!) and in Northumberland I learnt of the Border Reivers which keeps drawing me back to learn more. Anywho Rob, I look forward to seeing more of your videos. Where to next? Thank you

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@DonnaMaree-k3q thanks very much for your most kind feedback. Researching is addictive and I doubt I'll ever stop! In terms of family history one could spend a life time looking into it. Best of luck with your ongoing journey. Just curious, what assistance did the archaeologist provide you with?

[@DonnaMaree-k3q]

@@walkaboutwithrob I completely understand the addiction. Apologies, if it's a bit long-winded but... this is my passion. Initially I contacted the church connected to the ancestors in hope of finding more information. As I discovered (in my earlier July trip to the UK) in some areas, due to the high demand of ancestor research enquiries, the church or local communities quite often have a designated person. The contact at St Swithins, Walcott was happy to meet for a coffee but wasn't confident in helping me with any simple local stories so she spoke to a parishioner who happened to be a retired archaeologist who was happy to meet for coffee. Stephen Bird was the 'chief in charge' of the Roman Baths in Bath! Jackpot! I was researching my convict ancestor so needless to say there wasn't going too be much info to be found about him due to his 'one way' ticket to Aus. which is why I was interested in stories that only a local would know - some are soo interesting. Because of Stephen's contacts and access with Bath council, unbeknownst to me, he decided to research the parents of my convict ancestor and found some amazing things such as details of the family - parents and siblings c1780s ish onwards. He copied council street plans as far back as possible as well as a painting of the streetscape as it looked around their lifetime c1800s. (I now have a photo as it looks today to compare). Plus some information of the devasting landslide that occurred c1881 and although it was decades after the ancestors' lifetime, it showed what it once looked like because ever since it has be reclaimed as council parkland. After presenting all of this to me over a coffee, we walked to specific locations where the family would have been to 'follow in their footsteps'. This is exactly the things I like to do. It was a highlight of that trip and I am so grateful for initiating the contact with the church and Stephen's help. 😃

[@anj-i5b]

That’s fascinating! I can see a lot of work went into that. It’s cool to follow along solving the puzzle based on your research and to see how the town evolved over time. You have a way of bringing the history to life. In a way, I can see how time is like a river moving space about. Haha, Stephen the jerk! I’ve always thought so, had to study British history in school. Nice photo btw.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Thanks for your kind feedback. I find that research is easy, but putting it together into a hopefully coherent and interesting manner is the hard part!

[@jansommer504]

Thoroughly enjoyed the video on this village, the ancient history up to present times and the way of life for all who lived here in the past and now the present. You have crafted Oxted's history into being so very much alive and interesting that I can see how much hard work you have put into this one. I love the church and how it came to be built and the fact that the village has had different faith conversions. Also, I laughed so much from your wonderful sense of humour on the explanations of how Henry the Second came to the throne 🤣🤣

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@jansommer504 thank you so much for your very kind feedback. So much about this village is fascinating and so I hope I was able to capture a small amount of its history and present it in a way that made sense. So glad you enjoyed it. I was worried it would be to niche...

[@AwesomeFish12]

You have some interesting theories about the timelines of this mount, but we all have to wait for more evidence before we know for sure. Thanks for the video Rob. Your jokes, as lame as they are, are one of the best things about this channel. Laughing every now and then makes an otherwise dry subject more enjoyable.

[@uzetaab]

That makes a lot of sense to me. Essentially the centre of Oxted has just moved around a lot over the centuries and what was once old becomes new again. Fascinating.

[@ozziecozzie274]

Wow! Lot of history in that church!

[@KatefromOZ62-e5o]

Thanks Rob, that was really interesting.

[@matthewberry1738]

Robs’ been back to the old reeky and lost his marbles amongst the nostalgia. Bloody interesting to watch!

[@TrevorChatwood]

Excellent!

[@SteveMack]

Great work mate 👍

[@grahambishop263]

Great video, thanks it was great to watch

[@_the_wessex_nomad_]

Excellent video. You researched this well and you can see that you really enjoyed putting this together.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

I really did. Am glad it is now out of my system

[@Bims-t5b]

Guys let’s get rob to 30k subs he’s so close

[@antcaz100]

That was really great to see and learn about Rob, thank you. Also hope you got some time in reflecting on your Dads past there. Take care. Tony@ Wolffdene

[@sophrapsune]

Fascinating video and history, thanks. A bit different from walking around a suburb in Brisbane!

[@desmcharris]

Cheers Rob! Just Bonza mate! Stay safe during this Big weather event.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Thanks! Despite the latest Atlantic storm, I took a trip to Halifax and explored the town.

[@damonroberts7372]

The clerics may have had some agency in terms of site selection, but you shouldn't underestimate the role of aristocratic patronage (which was significant in the establishment of the Christian faith in the British Isles, and again in the Reformation). The location of St Mary's may simply come down to what land the local lord was willing to grant the Church, and that in turn may have been influenced by factors like the land's suitability for agriculture.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@damonroberts7372 I understand what you are saying and that is mostly true for larger Saxon estates and royal sites, palaces and various fortifications. But in this case, the Oxted area, we are dealing with a locale that was at the time quite removed from all centres of power. By and large much of Surrey was still heavily forested, being the northern extent of The Weald. As such the establishment of St. Mary's church was probably an easy decision that could have been quickly made by the first priests there. Considering the mound that the church sits on is the only such mound in the area it cannot be a coincidence that this site was chosen, especially due to its prior potential religious significance. Everything about its founding indicates a religious decision.

[@thehousedetective]

Another fantastic video, thanks! I learned so much and found it absolutely fascinating! Loved it!

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Thanks M! It had been in my head for far too long, so it was healthy to finally exorcise it.

[@2W0D3N]

Really enjoy the old knowledge in this one, it’s amazing how much of our modern society is built around ancient history and like you said just the stories about them changes over time so we will believe what they want us too 😉

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@2W0D3N "so we will believe what they want us too" [sic] What does that mean? Are we being lied to?

[@2W0D3N]

@ yes definitely we have been lied to for generations. For instance they will do something that’s inhumane like a virus and tell all kinds of lies to justify and make out that it wasn’t them. The system is broken and has been since the Roman’s ruled the empire, which they still do it’s just under a different name now. All tribal beliefs have similar stories that align with each other, now when you look at the books they align with the tribal stories but have an agenda for the people to follow and be controlled 🤷🏼‍♂️. Just my point of view from someone that has lived outside the system all my life, like they say you don’t see what in the box until you look at the box from the outside

[@markwallace1727]

Comment to feed the algorithm. Nice one Rob. I wouldn't worry too much about a muddy path. You could be trying to make something back here where I've been drenched in sweat even thinking about walking to the mailbox.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

I've been keeping an eye on the weather back in Brisbane. Looks horrendous, maybe one of the hottest summers for years.

[@gillianfahey6464]

only 37 deg expected today in Bris😅

[@davetaylor4741]

Not a million miles from my original home, also at the foot of the North Downs. The village I come from also has weird geography. When I was a kid, pre house numbers. We had addresses by house name and lower or upper street. In the upper street you had the church with the more modern manor house. Plus a lot of the oldest buildings. Then in the lower street, considered the newer end. You had the original medieval manor. Ancient tannery. The original village green that was the point of execution. And a few other ancient buildings. The church was 12th century, like most in my area. 2 miles from the oldest manor house. This village was also already established and recorded in the Doomsday book.

[@TH-ku1ro]

Quite aside from the very interesting content, well done on putting together the documentary. It's a hard thing to do right, and you did it really well. Congrats, and I'm now subbed.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@TH-ku1ro Thank you so much! I really appreciate it, and welcome to the channel.

[@marypink9953]

Visit Lavenham, Suffolk Rob. Your viewers will be astounded by its mediaeval buildings.

[@melstephen5191]

😊😊😊😊😊

[@sandramackin9817]

Loved the old buildings, so interesting, and one with a red door. Nice of you to pic up the vase of flowers at memorial for Lady Di. Nicely done..

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Thanks Sandra! For me personally, this is one of the most important videos I've yet made.

[@sandramackin9817]

@walkaboutwithrob can tell your passionate about this one. Great job.

[@t-rocks1960]

Cool Vid, I see a historic video on an english town needs a heap more time to research. Just your thing, enjoyed this very much..

[@mariehillard1742]

More!

[@SilkyS1LK1ESilk]

Thank you. Can I take a guess , you might watch Time Team

[@ross.venner]

Are flint flakes always diagnostic of the stone age? I was taught to knap flints when I needed a sharp edge. As youths, we would do that if we didn't happen to have a knife and needed to cut a rope for sailing or a piece of leather to make a sling. Believe me, you needed to "handle with care," they were very sharp. That was in Hampshire and slightly more recent than the Romans...

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@ross.venner Are flint flakes "always" diagnostic of the Stone Age? No they aren't. Stone tools continued to be used into the Bronze Age, yet the Bronze Age is not considered to be Stone Age.

[@Wilbargosh]

Dreaming allows you to Do in your imagination what people may criticize you for in reality. To Do is to be prepared for people response or not. To Do what others want and are willing to pay you for is worth the dreaming about……

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@Wilbargosh That's one way of looking at it. My intention with my saying was that if something is important to you because you dream about doing it - then go and do it. That's it. It's not about what other people think.

[@hardyakka6200]

You still in Queensland?

[@walkaboutwithrob]

No. Still in England.

[@hoightb]

Yeah, something like that! Lol funny way to finish off but makes sense. 👍

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@hoightb I think I was trying to make it sound like this isn't set in stone, more or less. The study of history is always revealing new things.

[@ozziecozzie274]

You were pretty cute in your younger days Rob! What happened? 😂😂

[@ericmc6482]

He turned into Barry McKenzie 😂

[@craigroaring]

I find the name "The Anarchy" to be misleading and a misuse of the term. "The Power Vacuum" would be a more accurate description. Ironically, anarchy would have rendered this power struggle redundant as there would be no position of power to fight for. Anarchy is just the rejection of man made political systems, with the belief that the laws of nature, as unfair as they are, are still more fair than the rules of a man who's agenda is nothing more than to maintain and consolidate their power. I'd rather get screwed by nature than man.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@craigroaring I think you are taking the term a little bit to literally. Yes, 'anarchy' can mean what you are describing, but it can also be used as a general term for overall disorder and a break down of law. That would certainly describe the events described in this video. Overall though, it's just a Victorian term that stuck, and so we use it.

[@craigroaring]

@@walkaboutwithrob But the reason I make a fuss of this misuse is because I believe a concerted effort has/is being made to demonise the option of anarchy. The powers that be do not want us thinking that we are better off without them. They want us to fear a world without their laws. My argument is that the laws of nature are consistent, incorruptible and preferable to the self serving laws of our masters. I have more faith in humanity than I do with people with ambition.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@@craigroaring Who is behind this concerted effort to demonise the option of anarchy?

[@craigroaring]

@@walkaboutwithrob For starters, I would suggest those who named a struggle within the monarchy as anarchy. If anarchy reigned there would be no monarchy and therefor no position to fight for. Anarchy would have pitted the two contenders against each other without the masses doing the fighting.