I would like to introduce you to a new feature on the FCA website called Storytelling, which presents the first of my Cookham Chronicles tales.

These fictional stories of Anglo Saxon life, from Cookham Abbey and its environs, feature invented  characters Silver Serpent and Flame Fox, plus the real life Queen Cynethryth, wife of King Offa of Mercia and Abbess of Cookham Abbey at the end of the eighth century. The stories are written as a fusion of imagination and historical facts, places, events and objects from our Digs, plus some magical elements to evoke a sense of the early medieval period and mind.

Going forward they will incorporate more finds and historical insights from our archaeology, plus co-created content with our communities.

As such the story lines are influenced by what we reveal of this fascinating period of history.

The tales have already been read to, and well received by, hundreds of schoolchildren and adults, who have shared loads of great ideas on the characters, and how people might have reacted to the challenges of life at this time.

We will be publishing new tales regularly and I hope you enjoy them!