Amidst rolling hills,
Thoughts wander like gentle streams,
Through valleys of mind.
As I stand at Waterhills, on the edge of Caistor, I can’t help but be struck by the weight of history that surrounds me. This small town and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England was once a Roman castrum or fortress, and its name still bears witness to that ancient past.
Perched on the north-west edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, Caistor occupies a place of great natural beauty, with the rolling hills and lush green fields stretching out as far as the eye can see. It’s no wonder that the Viking Way runs through this area – there’s a sense of timelessness and majesty here that’s hard to put into words.
As I gaze out at the landscape, I can’t help but imagine what it must have been like for the people who lived here centuries ago. The ancient Britons called this place Caer-Egarry, while the Saxons knew it as Thong-Ceastre. And it was here that a Roman station once stood, a testament to the enduring power of empire.
But it’s not just the distant past that resonates here. Caistor was also the site of a castle built by the Saxon Hengist, and it was here that his daughter Rowena married Vortigern. And in 827, it was here that Egbert triumphed over Wiglof, king of Mercia, leaving his mark on the history of this land.
As I take in the beauty of Waterhills and the surrounding landscape, I can’t help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for the generations of people who have called this place home. There’s a deep sense of connection here, to the land and to the people who have shaped it over the centuries.