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the history of Leyton and Leytonstone
from . dot to … dots – with plenty of spaces
13 ODA Environmental Assessment Annexures 2012 Olympics Planning Delivery Zone 7 Archaeological Detailed Desk Based Assessment
14 Talk to the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society by Andy Crockett, Senior Project Manager, Wessex Archaeology, March 2008
Saxon pottery has also been found at Waltham Abbey near the site of the later large monastery 11 . There was a Saxon settlement at Old Ford, Saxon pottery has been found at Stratford Market Depot, a revetment at Gibbins Yard, and a log-boat of 950 to 1000 AD was found at Springfield Park, Clapton in 1987. The greater London area including Leyton was at the intersection between the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia and Kent. London itself was nationally significant : in 1018 it paid £ 10,500 to Canute compared with £ 72,000 paid by the other Anglo-Saxon areas 12.
The Lea channel pattern dates back at least to the 11th century 13. The edge of the Lea valley was gradually drained section by section, with some roads like Marsh Lane surviving as a record of section ends 14. Recent excavations near Stratford have confirmed Saxon work on managing channels of the Lea 14.
Religion
Relics, objects with both religious significance and magical properties, continued to be prominent in Christianity, as did stories of miracles and martyrdom. Veneration of holy men and women was turned away from individuals and groups practising extreme, even competitive, asceticism towards communities worshipping together. Religious communities competed to gain possession of relics with high significance. Travel to touch a relic was important.
