DURING Covid times Crediton and District U3A members have regular Zoom talks and quizzes and as society is looking at opening up and expanding its provision, our Chair, Richard, explained that we may, in the future, continue with two general meetings a month: one in person at the Boniface Centre and one using Zoom.

This means that we shall be able to meet up but also have the flexibility of talks given by presenters from more remote locations.

When it is safe to do so outings and groups will resume! Safety, of course, is our main priority - we take Duty of Care very seriously.

This month’s Zoom meeting was entitled “The Saxon Era” and was delivered by Anthony Poulton-Smith (no relation!) from Tamworth in Cheshire. He is a freelance journalist and author.

Anthony explained the Saxon’s legacy.

The Saxons arrived on these shores about 1,500 years ago and were the most influential group until about 500 years ago when their influence waned.

They arrived peacefully and within only two generations a new language that blended theirs, of germanic roots, and ours was developed. This became known to us as Old English.

Of the 100 most commonly used words in the English Language 90 per cent are of Saxon roots.

Anthony then outlined the six levels of Saxon society. The King was at the head and his second in command were the Athelings who were eligible to rule but not necessarily of royal blood.

The lower levels were the Eorls, Thanes, Churles and on the lowest rung resided the Villains.

The villains were not free men and they were tied to the land as tenants. They had to pay a tithe to the Lord of the Manor to allow them to work the land.

There was also a well-developed political structure and legal system that forms the basis of our modern day institutions.

How many of the older readers remember pecks, bushels, rods and poles from school arithmetic?

These imperial measurements were all introduced by the Saxons.

As was the foot which we accept as 12 inches: a Saxon foot was, apparently, 13.2 inches whereas a Roman foot was 11.56 inches.

It didn’t matter that these differed as the Saxons used the foot for horizontal measurements and the Romans used it for the vertical measurement of the “footing” of a building.

The Saxons also introduced the acre, which meant open land and, Anthony’s favourite, the pint!

One of the observations at the end of the talk was that Old English was the official language adopted - there were still many local dialects being spoken across the country.

Thanks to Anthony Poulton-Smith for an interesting talk.

Crediton and District U3A is a thriving group with more than 200 members. To join is just £12 a year.

Jo Poulton