Wayland’s Smithy, Oxfordshire
Archaeology and history:
Wayland’s Smithy is a neolithic burial site just off the Ridgeway in Oxfordshire, UK.
It was used for burials some 5,500 years ago, during the Neolithic period. There are two barrows on this site, one placed over the other, built at separate times. Thus showing how this piece of land was used for generations for the same purpose, which would have included ceremonial and ritual purpose.
The first tomb was built between 3950 & 3555 BCE. It was made from stone with a wooden box, positioned between two split tree trunks, one at either end. Measuring 16.5m in length and 8.2m in width, the mound was faced with Sarsen stones some 9m in height which were leant against the side of the mound not dug into the ground. The remains of 14 people were found inside.
The second barrow was built over and incorporated the first. The mound is made from chalk, rubble and turf. This too is edged with Sarsen kerbstones, 0.3m in height. The entrance is south facing, and has a partial reconstruction of dry stone wall. Against this there are 4 Sarsen orthostats which stand 3m above ground level. The entrance is located in the centre of the orthostats and gives way to 3 chambers, in which many offerings have been placed by visitors. 8 partial skeletons were found located in this area of the barrow.
The first written evidence there is of the name ‘Wayland’s Smithy’ was in 955CE, in a charter of King Edred, suggesting a long association with the Saxon gods’ Smithy.
Folklore has it that Wayland lives there, but you will never see him. However, it is said that if you tether your horse and leave a coin, upon your return you will find your horse newly shod. Folklorist Diana Woolner suggests the association with Wayland manifested itself with the Saxon cult of Woden. This seems a popular theory intimating a continuation in the use of the site after the Celts. The Wayland’s Smithy tale was written down in an old Norse poem from the 13th century. The Volundarkitha explains the exploits of Volundr the Norse version of Wayland. However, the legend is much older as characteristics of it appear mentioned in 2 old English poems Beowulf and Deor’s Lament, dated 3 centuries earlier. Earlier still are depictions of scenes from the tale found on Franks Casket carved from whale bone in 8th century, Northumbria.
Origins of the myth are wide ranging including references to a variety of ancient pantheons, such as Greek God Hephaestos, Roman God Vulcan and a suggestion of the forging of King Arthur’s Excalibur. Wayland was an ancient Teutonic god, worshipped in Scandinavia, Germany and the Anglo-Saxons in England. His birth heralds from union between the legend of Wade, the God giant, King of the Finns and the Sea Goddess Wachilt. Wade is also remembered in numerous other English sites in Northern Britain, Wades causeway on the North York Moors; however, the facts indicate the causeway is a remnant of an ancient Roman road, one of the longest and best conserved in Britain.
The Legend of Wayland, The God’s Smithy
Wayland’s legend begins whilst he was a youth. His father sent him to the Icelandic mountains to become apprenticed to the master Dwarf metalworkers. Within his time with them, Wayland had mastered his craft. After his apprenticeship, he moved to live with his 2 brothers in the Forest of Wolfdales.
One frosty morning whilst out hunting, the 3 brothers spotted 3 princesses who were quietly spinning alongside lake Wolfsiar. Egil realised that these maidens were not just princesses, but were swan-maidens from Mirkwood. They had laid their swan forms by the shore. The three brothers stole the magical skins and with them the maidens, who were powerless without them.
Elgin married Olrun, Slagfid married Swanwhite and Wayland married Allwise. They lived in what seemed happiness for 8 years. But the urge to fly again in noway left them. Whilst the brothers were out hunting one day, the wives stole back their magical skins and flew away. Egil and Slagfid were beside themselves and vowed to find their loved ones. They set out on a quest immediately. Wayland, on the other hand, felt his wife would return and so calmly went back to his work in the smithy.
Wayland created the most exceptional pieces which were sought after by gods and kings all over the world. His beautiful jewellery was also revered. Rings were his forte. He would string them on a willow twig in his smithy. So high in demand had his work become that Wayland found difficulty in keeping up! Kings and princes jostled for Wayland’s work. None more so than the King Niduth of Sweden. Niduth set off set off to the Wolfdales to pursue Wayland. He wanted him as his own royal smithy. When he reached Wayland’s lodge, he found it empty. Wayland had gone hunting. The king entered the smithy and was dazzled by the sight of the Wayland’s work. He spotted the willow twig of rings and desired one for his daughter. Impatient from waiting for the Smith’s return home, he took the ring he wanted and rode off for home, leaving his men to seize Wayland.
On his return, Wayland noticed one of his rings missing straight away. He believed his wife was home and had taken it for herself. With this peace of mind he fell asleep. When he woke he was tied up and his brother Egil, who had returned during the night was also bound. The two were taken to King Niduth’s court. At court Niduth told Wayland of his plans to make him the royal smithy, but first he had to fight the current royal smithy. Of course with his magical swordsmanship, Wayland killed the Swedish smith. The king continued to tell of his plans to keep the God-smith on an island with no chance escape. Whilst informing Wayland of his intentions, the king took Wayland’s own sword and turned it on him. He sliced Wayland’s hamstrings and thus made it impossible for him to abscond. Wayland was thrown into a deep cavern on an island, which he made his smithy.
Wayland never gave up hope of escape and was determined that his immortal life would not be defined by his incarceration by a human. His revenge began after he’d sneaked off the island to see his brother Egil, who had been put to work in another part of the royal palace. He asked his brother to make him some wings so that he could make his escape. Although Egil knew that this put his brother in danger he agreed that this would be the only way for him to proceed, albeit with a lame leg. Egil began to collect wild bird feathers immediately.
In the meantime, Wayland secretly invited the king’s sons to his smithy. He knew they admired his work and were intrigued to see his forbidden smithy. When they arrived they saw the boxes of treasures that Wayland had fashioned. Seeing the greed in their eyes, Wayland urged them to return in secret that night and offered the boxes of treasures as a gift if they did. They returned all-right, but armed with his newly forged sword Wayland sliced off their heads and began his ultimate gruesome revenge. From their skulls he created two jewel encrusted goblets, laced with the finest gold. Their eyes were fashioned into beautiful gems and their teeth he mastered into pearls. The remainder of their bodies were interred to the dungheap! The following day he presented king Niduth with his finest work. The king put the goblets to use immediately, the jewels adorned the queen and the ‘pearls’ were given to the princess Beahilda.
By nightfall search parties had been sent out for the two princes and the king was fraught. Princess Beahilda sought out Wayland for a secret favour so as not to arouse the kings anger. She asked of Wayland that he repair a ring that her father had given her, the same ring that Wayland had believed his wife to have taken! His blood boiled and he began his final blow of revenge. He told the princess he would mend the broken ring so that nobody would know it had ever broken. Wayland sat Beahilda down with a cup of wine, which he had drugged. When she was asleep he raped her in revenge of king Niduth’s greed, enslavement and dishonesty.
Wayland sought out his brother and after thanking him for the wings he had fashioned for him, he flew over the great hall and tormented the king about the fate of children, not least Beahilda who was pregnant with Wayland’s child.
Wayland departed and flew across the North Sea to Britain. He found, on the high downs in Berkshire, a tomb which became his home. It was there that Merlin requested that the God’s smithy forge the sword Excalibur for king Arthur. He lives there to this day and it is said that if you are walking the Ridgeway and your horse’s shoes need to be shod, take him to the smithy, leave him tethered and leave an offering (usually a silver sixpence) on the uppermost stone. On your return you will find the horse shod and the offering gone! Wayland works in secret…..
There are many other legends in connection to Wayland and the surrounding parts of the land in this area. These I will leave for your own discovery and understanding.
My visit to Wayland’s Smithy
I visited the smithy on my birthday in October 2017. We were camping nearby so decided to go for a walk which included Uffington castle and the white horse hill. One uphill trek later and we could see for miles. The Uffington hill settlement was perfectly placed as an advantage point along the Ridgeway, which would have acted as a byway from one fort or settlement to another along this route, making communication easier between one settlement and another. The white horse itself has many stories attached to it. One story is that the horse ‘nannie’ was shod by Wayland and every so many hundred years she rides from the hill toward the smithy where Wayland has to repeat the task.
The walk from the windy hilltop of the settlement takes you toward the Ridgeway. The ridgeway is Britain’s oldest road which links some of our most fascinating ancient lands and sites. It is 87 miles long and is an ancient chalk ridge route used by prehistoric man. It is still in use today, but not as a connecting byway for vehicles.
The Ridgeway is a haven for wildlife and is a real site of beauty all year round. We visited the downs during the Autumn and we were certainly in awe of the changing seasons reflected along the walkway to Wayland’s Smithy. Take a look at some of the photographs I’ve added to this article and you will see just how divine it is at this time of year. The walk is about a mile or so from the Uffington hill settlement. On the day we were faced with the tail end of a wind storm which in effect showed us how the Ridgeway would have been a haven from the wind! We walked in almost silence, looking round the landscape and taking in the beautiful surroundings. We weren’t alone that day as many others had come to visit the site too. But respectfully each group arrived as the last was leaving. Wayland’s Smithy is just a short turning off of the Ridgeway. On the approach you can see that it is hidden within a beach grove. Once entering the site a sense of serenity came about us and we just admired the fact that this place was another special resting place of the ancients. You feel as though you are miles away from anyone but in fact you’re only a short walk from the Ridgeway which in its time would have been quite busy, and not far from local villages. I can see why this place was chosen and feel that the ambience we experienced is eternal. I hope it remains the same for generations to come. To be able to walk where our ancestors did and pay our respects to them as they once did is a pleasure and a privilege.
Credits:
http://www.berkshirehistory.com/legends/smithy01.html
http://www.berkshirehistory.com/archaeology/waylands_smithy.html
http://www.berkshirehistory.com/legends/smithy02.html
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/waylands-smithy/
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1008409
The British Museum