A Higher Reality

Set against the backdrop of late ninth-century England, the narrative explores the establishment of Shaftesbury Abbey by King Alfred, highlighting its significance as a model for royal nunneries. The story delves into the abbey's role in venerating Edward the Martyr and its flourishing due to extensive estates in Dorset and Wiltshire. By 1100, the abbey's monumental rebuilding spurred the growth of the medieval town of Shaftesbury, transforming it into a vital hub for trade and communication.