A personal voyage into imagining history.
Today I’d like to deviate from my professed intention of my newsletter to focus on matters of communication, global trends and investment and turn to a thought experiment devoted to doors, portals and buildings as prompts to historical imaginings.
There is more history in one medieval doorway of an ancient building than in all the history books ever written. Yes, we all like to think of history as dates, names, places and narratives of well known men and women and that’s fair enough – but facts can only take us so far.
But I’d like to toy with the idea that we might enjoy deeper understanding of history by contemplating the long and storied life of an old entrance to a church, mosque, castle or simple building than by reading any number of scholarly or intellectual books about the times that the building has witnessed.
Mersham is a small village dating back to Saxon times which was mentioned in the Domesday Book and recorded in the White Book of St. Augustine.
The ancient Church of St. John the Baptist, has graced the site at Mersham since 1086 AD.
Looking at the church I try to imagine them – the thousands of individuals that have passed through this portal. People, just like you and I with our grumpy relatives, daily chores and our evenings of hopes and fears sometimes rising from our dreams.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the parish became responsible for overseeing the care of the poor and the repair of highways.
No doubt some came by to benefit from the care offered, or figure out the time of day as one might glance at a watch. The Mersham Church has seven sundials on the south doorway of the church, five on the righthand side and two on the left, under a portico where people stood.
Mersham Church sundials
Or I think about the curious children who stared upon the stained-glass windows and church artifacts and icons and wondered at parents and the congregation’s beliefs.
Mersham Church stained glass windows.
Some of the internal detail would mystify any child
Or a spurned husband or wife who prays for the redemption of their relationship. Perhaps a mother fearful of future news as a would-be soldier exits this church for the last time.
All these thousands of people have left their autobiographical mark in a bigger history – right there, in that ancient building and its surrounds, including its cemetery.
Mersham Church cemetery
In its earliest history the village was a small rural community struggling to make ends meet. My family’s ancestors were probably peat miners back then (yes, they were in the energy business) and subsequent generations became lace and fur artisans for the royal court. In the 16th and 19th century, several generations of Mershams became publicans (owners or managers of pubs, Ale houses and Inns). Some were farriers because the horses would need attention after travel on arrival at the Inn.
Even today, The Farriers Arms in Mersham produces a popular Mersham Russet Ale.
History both begins and ends here, in this present moment, and goes on beginning and ending continually, forever, eternally. For what is true of that one ancient place and its portal is true of all the world. As I write these words history is beginning and ending – as you read these words, my writing of them has already become historical – even though it will never be as widely read and enjoyed as it was to write. 😊