Commemorating Hereward

Hereward Pbro Promo Hereward Knighthood.jpg

Commemoration of Hereward the Wake:

A Call for Posthumous Absolution

Date & Time: Sunday 29th June 2025 at 1:00 pm

Location: Peterborough Cathedral (outside)

Occasion: 957th anniversary of Hereward the Wake’s knighting, at Peterborough Abbey by Abbot Brand

On 29th June 2025 the WakeHereward Project will

gather at Peterborough Cathedral to commemorate

the knighting of Hereward the Wake, which

occurred 957 years ago on 29th June 1068, as documented in the early 12th-century Latin text

'De Gestis Herwardi Saxonis'

(The Exploits of Hereward the Saxon).

This event, described as following 'the English practice' underscores Hereward’s deep connection to Peterborough Abbey, further evidenced by his land holdings at Witham on the Hill recorded in Domesday Book, 1086, and claims of familial ties to Abbot Brand as recorded in the 14th century manuscript, the 'Petroburgenese' (aka The Chronicle of Abbot John).

Despite his eventual reconciliation with King William I, as recorded by Geoffrey Gaimar, in his 'Estoire des Engleis' (History of the English) dated ca: 1140, who notes Hereward came to terms with the king and joined William's army in Northern France - his legacy remains complicated by his excommunication in 1070 by Bishop Aethelric for raiding Peterborough Abbey as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, E Version & the Peterborough Chronicle of Hugh Candidus.

Today on the 29th June 2025 the WakeHereward Project announces its intention to petition

the Dean of Peterborough for his posthumous absolution, recognising Hereward’s role as a defender of the local folk, their land and their institutions, against Norman oppression.

At 1pm outside Peterborough Cathedral, actor and medieval re-enactor Rory Gibson will perform a 20 minute act 'The Legend of Hereward the Wake', regaling tales of Hereward's exploits including his knighting at Peterborough, his sacking of the abbey and his famous stand at Ely against the might of William the Conqueror.

Rory will be joined by David Maile of the WakeHereward Project who will talk about Hereward's impact on English culture and the plans the project has in petitioning the Church at Peterborough to seek a posthumous absolution for Hereward.

The session will last approximately 35 to 45 minutes after which the pair will enter the cathedral to view the small statuette housed in a place of honour and present a letter to begin a process which will take at least one year to fulfil. Details of which will become apparent and published herein once the Dean has received the letter.

All are welcome.

There is no charge for the event, however Peterborough Cathedral is under financial stress and any contribution that can be made towards the cathedral in the appropriate Offertory Box will be greatly appreciated as the WakeHereward Project sees this as a way to help the cathedral while paying a service to Hereward.

Hereward the Wake Spotted leaving Peterborough Cathedral 955 years later...

2nd June 1070-2025

On June 2, 1070, Hereward the Wake, the legendary Anglo-Saxon rebel, led a daring raid on Peterborough Abbey, a pivotal moment in his resistance against Norman rule.

Known as the “Folk Hero of the Fens,” Hereward’s actions 955 years ago cemented his legacy as a symbol of defiance following the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Drawing from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (E manuscript) and The Peterborough Chronicle of Hugh Candidus, this account captures the drama and significance of that day.The raid was sparked by news that a Norman abbot, Turold of Fécamp, was set to replace Hereward’s uncle, Abbot Brand, at Peterborough Abbey, a wealthy monastery famed as the 'Golden Borough' for its treasures rivaling those of Glastonbury and Ely.

Hereward, joined by a Danish Viking force led by Earl Osborne and Bishop Christian of Aarhus, saw an opportunity to strike a blow against Norman encroachment. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that Hereward and his band, supported by local Fenlanders, stormed the abbey, seizing “gold and silver of such great value that no one man could reckon it to the other.”

Their stated aim was to protect the abbey’s relics and treasures from falling into Norman hands, though the loot was reportedly carried off to Denmark, a detail that underscores the complex motives of resistance and opportunism.

The Peterborough Chronicle of Hugh Candidus paints a darker picture, condemning the raiders for doing “all manner of evil things.” To the pious monks, the sacking was an outrage, and the Church later excommunicated Hereward and his allies, branding their actions as devilish.

Yet, to the Fenlanders, Hereward’s raid was a rallying cry. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle notes that “all the folk of the Fenlands came to them thinking they would win all the land,” reflecting the hope his rebellion inspired among those resisting Norman rule. After the raid, Hereward and his forces retreated to the Isle of Ely, invited by Abbot Thurstan, who feared a similar fate for his monastery. This move set the stage for Hereward’s later stand at Ely in 1071, where he became a beacon of Anglo-Saxon resistance.

While the raid shocked the religious establishment, it showcased Hereward’s boldness and strategic use of the Fens’ terrain, leveraging local support and alliances with Danish forces. This fleeting but fiery episode, as recorded in the chronicles, captures Hereward the Wake’s enduring image as a champion of the oppressed Anglo-Saxons.

Hereward's raid on Peterborough Abbey, exactly 955 years ago, remains a testament to his defiance against the Norman yoke, blending historical fact with the mythic aura of a

folk hero.

Visit Peterborough Cathedral and

find Hereward in there!