Details
Date: 2017 - Ongoing
Dr Lesley Hardy (PI) and Dr Ellie Williams (Co-I)
Funding Information
HLF grant (Finding Eanswythe)
ECLAS (Follow on funding - 3 Days in January Project)
Finding Eanswythe is an ongoing community project exploring 1400 years of Folkestone’s history, archaeology, and heritage centered on the town’s seventh century patron saint, St Eanswythe. Four years of community engagement and research – led by Canterbury Christ Church University - culminated in 2020 with the study (Three Days in January Project) of what were thought to be Eanswythe’s bones, found hidden in the wall of the Church of Saint Mary and Saint Eanswythe over 130 years ago. Scientific analysis, combined with historical research undertaken by the Saint Eanswythe Research Group, led to the exciting conclusion that these remains were almost certainly those of Eanswythe. These are therefore the earliest verified remains of an English Saint, which led to widespread international reporting.
Ongoing research and community activity and curational work on the skeletal remains and original reliquary bring us up to the present day, with plans to create a permanent exhibition of Eanswythe’s life and afterlife in the town. A new reliquary for her long-term curation has been created and her reinterment in the church will took place in November 2024.
Links
- The Finding Eanswythe website is under construction (https://findingeanswythe.uk/) and a project book is available to buy from the Time Team website:
- The Three Days in January film:
- An interview with Dr Andrew Richardson
- A short project summary by Dr Ellie Williams