Hidden for Centuries: Railway Workers Unearth Mysterious Medieval Shrine Beneath Southern England Tracks
“The old name for St Catherine’s Hill is Drakehull ‘The Hill of the Dragon’,” the archaeology spokesman explained, “so this has obviously been a site of ritual significance long before the construction of the church on the top of the hill in the late 13th century.”
According to James Cook in his book English Medieval Shrines, shrines were largely connected to the cult of saints during Medieval times.
Several major shrines across England were reconstructed in the 14th century, incorporating the distinct embellishments synonymous with the decorated style of architecture.
There are a number of famous shrine relics that remain popular attractions today, such as the holy spring of St Winifred that was originally built sometime in the 12th century in Wales.
That site is said to be where St Beuno — a central figure known for popularizing Celtic monasticism in north Wales — restored his niece, St Winifred, to life after her head had been cut off by a rejected suitor.
Now that you’ve learned about the 14th century hidden shrine that was uncovered inside a hill, read about the discovery of Medieval bones in an English church that belonged to a 7th century saint. Then, learn about the tree older than Christianity that scientists found in a North Carolina swamp.
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