Threekingham's Terrors

This is the junction of Mareham Lane and Holland Road, better known as the A52 near Threekingham in Lincolnshire. Although the latter is busy and the former quiet, and therefore a relief to join upon my bicycle, the junction was of immense importance 1200 years ago. It was here in September, 869 or 870, that the Great Army of the Danes encamped by the Roman road and Salters Way, close by ‘Trikyngham’. Some have even suggested that the village derives its name from the three Viking lords whose army it was (while other sources say that ‘Tric’ was a personal name rather than a reference to three). This army was part of the Danes’ giant invasion force and it was moving south from York towards the safer winter quarters in East Anglia

It seems remarkable to we moderns that this little place was once home to the most dangerous people on the island. In the end, the Norse and Danes joined the melting pot of ‘Englishness’, their blood and genes still flowing through many of our veins. Today’s dangers become tomorrow’s memories; tomorrow’s memories become the next day’s memory loss.

Whatever you are going through, its enormity and pain troubles and baffles you now, but from the sunny uplands of eternity, such things will be dim and distant memories- if they are remembered at all.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

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