The Bucgan’ora Moot

The Bucgan'ora Moot

In 680 AD, what we now call Bognor Regis was known as Bucgan’ora (Bucge’s Shore). To imagine a "Moot" (a Saxon assembly or court) here during this time is to step into a world where the sea was the primary highway and the land was a mosaic of marsh, forest, and small farmsteads.

While there is no specific archaeological record of a "Moot hall" in Bognor from 680 AD, the social structure of the South Saxons (the Kingdom of Sussex) makes the nature of such a gathering very clear.

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The Setting: Bucge’s Shore

The name itself tells us the gathering likely happened near the water. In the 7th century, the coastline was much further out than it is today; Bognor was a wide inlet, with nearby Selsey and Felpham appearing almost like islands.

Location: The Moot would have met outdoors, likely at a high point or a recognisable landmark like a large oak tree, a standing stone, or a "ring-ditch" (burial mound).
Atmosphere: The air would smell of salt and woodsmoke. You would see small, shallow-bottomed Saxon boats (similar to those found at Sutton Hoo but smaller) pulled up onto the gravelly "ora" (shore).

The Participants: Who was at the Moot?

A Moot was not just for the elite; it was a "folk-meeting." In 680 AD, the South Saxons were transitioning under King Æthelwealh, the first Sussex king to convert to Christianity.

Bucge: Since the place is named after her, Bucge was likely a female Saxon chieftain or landowner of high status. It is highly probable she presided over local affairs.
The Ceorls: Free peasants who owned land. They were required to attend to help settle disputes, witness land sales, and provide "oath-helpers" for legal cases.
The Clergy: By 680 AD, St. Wilfrid was active in the Selsey area. You might have seen a monk or priest present, marking the shift from pagan "blood-feuds" to a more codified Christian legal system.

What Happened at the Moot?

A 7th-century Moot functioned as a mix of a town hall, a supreme court, and a social festival.

Activity

Resolving "weregild" (man-price) disputes. If someone's cattle were stolen or a brawl broke out, the Moot decided the fine based on the victim's social rank.

Trade

Since Bucgan’ora was a "landing place," the Moot likely oversaw the exchange of goods—hides, salt, and wool—coming in and out by sea.

Defense

Discussing the "Fyrd" (local militia). In 680 AD, Sussex was under pressure from the neighboring kingdom of Wessex; the Moot would organize the defense of the shore.

Oaths

Transactions were not written on paper but spoken aloud. A man might stand before the assembly and swear on his honor (and his kinsmen's honor) that a piece of land was his.

The Visual Experience

Imagine a circle of "benches" (motschameles)—likely just fallen logs or earthworks. Men would be armed with seaxes (single-edged knives) and round wooden shields, though weapons were often set aside during the peace of the Moot. The language spoken would be Old English, a guttural, Germanic tongue that sounds more like modern Icelandic or German than English.

Historical Note: The very document that mentions Bucgan’ora in 680 AD is a charter related to the foundation of the monastery at Selsey, showing that even then, Bognor was an important enough landmark to be recorded in the earliest annals of English history.

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