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Charter of Ethelred II confirming the grant by Wulfric Spot of possessions in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Warwickshire for the foundation of Burton Abbey, 1004

SRO D603/A/ADD/1
©Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

Wulfric Spot was an influential Mercian nobleman who left all his property to found the Benedictine abbey at Burton-upon-Trent. The text of the original will, written in Anglo-Saxon, is contained in the second half of the document. This lists all the lands belonging to Wulfric Spot, including 26 references to Staffordshire. The first part of the document, written in Latin, contains the royal confirmation of the will followed by an extensive list of witnesses including the King’s sons, two Archbishops, ten bishops, twelve abbots and 25 noblemen.

Burton was Staffordshire’s largest and wealthiest monastic house and dominated the mediaeval town of Burton. It was dissolved by the Crown in 1539 when the Abbey’s lands were granted to Sir William Paget, Henry VIII’s secretary of state.

Staffordshire Place Names included in Wulfric Spot’s will, 1004

Acclea - Oakley, Staffordshire part of Croxall Parish, Derbys

Acofre - Okeover

Baltrytheleage - probably Balterley

Bedintun - Pillaton, Penkridge Parish

Beorelfestune - possibly Barlaston, Staffs but may also be Barlestone, Leics

Bromleage - Bromley, Abbots Bromley Parish

Byrtune - Burton on Trent

Caetesthyrne - Castern, Ilam Parish

Celfdun - Cauldon

Cotewaltune - Cotwaltun, Stone Parish

Deorlafestun - Darlaston probably Stone Parish

Eccleshale - Eccleshall, most probably Staffs Eccleshall

Elleforda - thought reasonably certain to be Elford

Gageleage - Gailey, Penkridge Parish

Heorlfestun - probably Harlaston, Lichfield

Hilum - Ilam

Lege - Church Leigh, Leigh Parish

Longdon - probably Longdon Staffs

Maerchamtune - Marchington in Hanbury Parish

Rolfestun - Rolleston, Burton Parish

Rudegeard - Rudyard, Leek Parish

Sceon - Sheen

Straettun - Stretton, Burton Parish

Tamworthin - Tamworth

Wineshylle - Winshill, formerly in Derbys, since 1894 in Staffs

Witestan - Whiston, probably Penkridge Parish,