Monument record 1909/1 - St Plegmund's Hermitage

<1> Clay R M, 1914, Hermits and Anchorites of England, Chapter 16, p.168,208-209 (Book). SCH1340.

Hermitage at Plemstall, Plegmund c.890 (see Gervase, Rolls 73, 11, 350) "Plegmund….once lived the slitiary life upon 'an island of Chester, called by the inhabitants Plegmundesham'- probably Plemondstall … The Saxon Chronicle for the year 890 records that 'This year was Plegmund chosen of God and of all the people to the Archbishopric of Canterbury…" He is said to have crowned Edward the Elder, and to have died at an advanced age in 914. The memory of the hermit archbishop was treasured in his former retreat where his name was adopted. The 'Christening Well' [1909/0/1] near the church of Plemstall, was called 'St.Plegmund's Well' in the time of Edward VI.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46NE 12 1959, D.A.Davies 17/07/1959 (Index). SCH2487.

The site was visited by an Ordnance Survey Field Investigator, D.A.Davies, on 17/07/1959, the following observation was made: ' No further information concerning the hermitage of St. Plegmund was obtained during field investigation. The well has been sited at SJ 45517012 (See SJ47SE2), and the Hermitage may have been close to it.

<3> Beresford M, 1954, The Lost Villages of England, p.345 (Book). SCH3196.

Beresford suggests Plemstall is the site of a lost village. However no traces of a deserted village have been found.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ47SE 1, S.R.Williams, 03/03/1976 (Index). SCH2487.

The site is understood to have been deleted from the DMV Research Group's list but there are references to a church here in 1129 and 1148 and later references to a hamlet. (S.R.Williams, 03/03/1976).

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Turner R C 1984 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The island remains a clear topographical feature by the flood plain of the River Gowy. Mostly occupied by the church & churchyard, its northern part remains a pasture field. Has potential for remains of a cult or pilgrimage site.

<6> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, Vol 1, p.269 Thacker A 1987; Vol 3, p.126 Kettle A J 1980 (Book). SCH3556.

<7> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, No.314 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<8> Chester Archaeology, 1995, St Plegmund's Well: an Archaeological and Historical Survey (Client Report). SCH4101.

Archaeological study of St. Plegmund's well (see 1909/0/1) undertaken in 1995 and also discussing the possibility that a hermitage existed at Plemstall before the foundation of St. Peter's Church.