Bottisham Second Millennium
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hamlet to become significant in the later history of Bottisham,
was that of Bendyshe (or Bendidge) Hall. As mentioned by
Hailstone, it is not clear whether Bendyshe was a part of the
manor of Bottisham or was separate from it. As with surnames
being retained over centuries, so the field names are frequently
ancient. The skirtlands have long been recognised as
“Braddons”; Northfield (Campus
Borealis) dates from early
Edward III, Stone Field (Campus
Petrosus) abutted onto
Swaffham Bulbeck whilst Littlefield at the centre of Bottisham
was added later. There are many other ancient names, but not
the space in this account to go further into detail.
Perhaps the influence of the superb cathedrals
appearing in England, together with the need to recognise the
increased status of Bottisham, led to the building of the fine
church tower at the west end of Holy Trinity about the year
1247. The height of this tower emphasised the importance of
the church within the community, apart from the secular use of
the height as an observation post which looked across to Ely.
Intriguingly, coincident with the building of the tower, was the
addition of the unusual galilee to the west of the Bottisham
tower. This construction was close in time with the galilee
development by Bishop Eustace at Ely cathedral. With such an
uncommon feature for a parish church it is tempting to surmise
that either the master masons were well known to each other or
did the bishop have an influence in Bottisham? Oh to be in a
time machine on those rare occasions when the Cantor, leading
the processional around the church, reached the west Door and
was then singing “...behold I lead you into Galilee...”. Further,
it is a small step of the imagination to picture the priest,
separated from the standing congregation, behind the
beautifully carved wood-tracery screens pouring the remainder
of the sacrament into the twelfth century, carved double-
piscina. The congregation would have been standing on a