Sint-Pieters-upon-Thames

Did you know that this area to the south of the Thames once belonged to the Saint Peter's Abbey in Ghent. It was known as Sint-Pieters-upon-Thames. It now corresponds roughly to the areas of Lewisham, Greenwich, Woolwich, Mottingham . It was donated in 918 by Princess Acifthryth (868-929) who was married to Baudouin II, Count of Flanders. She is buried under the Sint-Pietersabbey church . She donated this area because St. Peter's Abbey provided Bishop Dunstan asylum after his flight from the previous English king. He had to move to St. Peter's Abbey in Ghent to escape the wrath of King Edwy , whom he had accused of leading a licentious life. In 959 he returned back to England. Princess Acifthryth could give this area because she was the daughter of the English king. It would remain in the hands of the Saint Peter's Abbey in Ghent for about 500 years. Finally, in 1414 a law was passed in which all foreign property was added to the Crown. The Abbot of St Peter's Abbey called on the pope to undo the seizure, but he no longer had any moral authority in England.

Dromos