Repton

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 52.83
longitude= -1.55
official_name= Repton
map_type= Derbyshire
population =
shire_district= South Derbyshire
shire_county = Derbyshire
region= East Midlands
constituency_westminster= South Derbyshire
post_town= DERBY
postcode_district = DE65
postcode_area= DE
dial_code= 01283
os_grid_reference=

Repton is a large village in Derbyshire, England between Derby and Burton upon Trent, situated at the edge of the River Trent floodplain.

It was the traditional royal burial place of the kings of Mercia, one of the early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Christianity was reintroduced to the Midlands at Repton,fact|date=January 2008 where the Mercian royal family, under Peada, were converted to Christianity in 653. Soon a double abbey under an Abbess had been constructed.

The centre of the village is dominated by the Church of Saint Wystan, also called Wigstan of Mercia, which is notable for its Saxon crypt. Built in the 8th century, the Repton crypt was to serve as a mausoleum for the Mercian royal family. Wigstan was a prince of Mercia who was murdered by his guardian in 850, under the reign of Wiglaf. His remains were buried in the crypt at Repton and miracles were ascribed to them. Repton proceeded to become a place of pilgrimage; Wigstan was later sanctified, and became the patron Saint of the church.

Repton was the original seat of Christianity in the English Midlands, though in 669 the Bishop of Mercia moved his See from Repton to Lichfield. Offa, King of Mercia seemed to resent his own bishops paying allegiance to the Archbishop of Canterbury in Kent who, whilst under Offa's control, was not of his own kingdom of Mercia. Offa therefore created his own archbishopric in Lichfield, who presided over all the bishops from the Humber to the Thames. Repton thus became a origin for a third split in the English Church; Canterbury, York and Lichfield. This only lasted for 16 years however, before Mercia being returned under the Archbishopric of Caterbury.

Remains of a priory founded in 1172 have been incorporated into the buildings of Repton School, a public school established in 1557.

Notable Residents

* Æthelbald King of Mercia was interred here in 797 AD.cite book |last= Kirby|first= D.P.|title= The Earliest English Kings|pages=134|year= 1992|publisher= Routledge|isbn=0-415-09086-5]
* Beornrad of Mercia was buried here ["ASC" manuscript E, 755 (757); translated by Michael Swanton, "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle", 1996.]
* Saint Guthlac of Croyland was a monk here [ [http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/guthlac.html Saint Guthlac in EarlyBritishKingdoms.com] accessed June 2007] in c 697 AD
* Russell Osman, International footballer was born here in 1959 [ [http://www.englandstats.com/playerreport.php?pid=718 Russell Osman at EnglandStats.com] accessed June 2007] .
* King Wiglaf of Mercia was buried here
* King Wigstan of Mercia was reburied here cite book |last= Swanton|first= Michael|title= The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle|pages=48–49|year= 1996|publisher= Routledge|isbn=0-415-92129-5]

This list does not include staff or students of Repton School. Notable persons are listed in that article.

References

External links

* [http://www.repton.org.uk/ Repton School]
* [http://www.reptonvillage.org.uk/ Repton Village] - Visit Repton Village News, Repton Society and Repton Village History Group]
* [http://www.burton-on-trent.net/?CategoryID=7 Repton Community Forum]