‘The Origin Legend of Frome’ newly fills six windows at the far end of Cheap Street. The legend blends historical and folkloric tales of St Aldhelm, (Feast Day 28th May) who built a monastery on the river Frome over 1300 years ago. The market town then grew up around the monastery and church. The windows celebrate Cheap Street as one of England’s oldest trading streets, as well as Aldhelm’s fame as a riddler, singer, lover of rivers and springs, champion of community and – so the story goes – rider of a fire-eating horse that could run swifter than thought.
Head to the old windows of Amica to see the beautiful tale brought to life by local author, artist and medievalist Amy Jeffs, and artist and illustrator Gwen Burns. Amy has written STORYLAND: A New Mythology of Britain, WILD: Tales from Early Medieval Britain, and SAINTS: Medieval Legends of Heroes, Humans and Magic, and now in collaboration with Gwen Burns, OLD SONGS: Stories of Love and Death from Traditional Ballads.
All publications can be found at Hunting Raven books on Cheap Street, as well as Sherlock & Pages located at the foot of Catherine Hill.
Spotted Aldhelm’s riddle on the window? Send in your guesses to solve the riddle to info@frometowncouncil.gov.uk, with the chance to win a copy of the book OLD SONGS: Stories of Love and Death from Traditional Ballads, kindly donated by Hunting Raven.