middle thames

Opposite Looking north east over recent excavations led by the University of Reading in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, Cookham. Headed by Dr Gabor Thomas as part of the university’s Middle Thames Archaeology Partnership, the project’s findings are helping to illuminate the location of a long lost Anglo Saxon monastery, associated with a powerful 8th century queen.

A lost monastery revealed? Investigating an Anglo-Saxon community at Cookham

In the 8th century, Cookham minster was the focus of a decades-long power struggle between early medieval kingdoms, but over time the religious community’s location faded from memory, despite its association with a powerful Anglo-Saxon queen. Now excavations in Berkshire are thought to have brought its remains to light once more. CA Editor Carly Hilts spoke to Gabor Thomas about what has been found.