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C

cornmarigold

corn marigold

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Season:

  • May - September

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Culinary:

  • petals flavour and colour creamy soups, fish chowder and egg dishes in the same way as calendula

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Medical:

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Etymology:

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Notes:

  • common in grain fields aka field marigold

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Literary:

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Species and Find Sites:

Chrysanthemum segetum aka Glebionis segetum

  • Peninsular House, City of London (Saxon/Norman) hearths and occupation layers

  • St Nicholas Church, Gloucester (1000-1300) street layer

  • Milk St, City of London (Saxon/Norman) pit fills

  • Saddler St 74, Durham City (593-1203) pit fill and midden

  • General Accident York 83-4, York (Anglo-Scandinavian) pit fills

  • Eastgate Beverley 83-86, Beverley (pre 8th c)

  • Lloyds Bank York 72-3, 6-8 Pavement (Anglo-Scandinavian) occupation layers

  • Rougier St York 81, York (Anglo-Scandinavian) pit fill

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cowslip     cúslyppe

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Season:

  • May - September

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Culinary:

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Medical:

  • Nim wudubindes leáf and cúslyppan 'take woodbine's leaf and of cowslip'

  • 3 other remedies

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Notes:

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Literary:

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Species and Find Sites:

  • see primrose

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Etymology:

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cowslip

E

elderflower

elderflower     ellen

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Season:

  • late May - August

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Culinary:

  • used to make wine and cordials, or place in a muslin bag to flavour tarts and jellies, remove before serving. Elderflowers can be dipped in batter and deep fried

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Medical:

  • ellenes blósman genim & gegnid & gemenge wi# hunig & gedó on box - &  þonne þearf si genim bollan fulne hluttres geswettes wines gemenge wi# $ & aseohhe syle drincan 'elder blossoms - take and grind and mix with honey and put into a box - and when the need is take a bowl full of clear sweetened wine mix with that and strain it - give to drink'

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Etymology:

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Notes:

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Literary:

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Species and Find Sites:

Sambucus nigra (elder)

  • The Bedern York 76-80, York (580-900) 

  • Hartlepool 84-5, Church Close, 1988, Cleveland (7th/8thc)

  • Melbourne St 71-6, Southampton, Hamwih, 1980, Hampshire (700-900) pit fill

  • Granville St 73, Southampton SAR XI, 1976, Hampshire (mid-late Saxon) pit fill

  • North Elmham Park 62-72, North Elmham, Norwich/Fakenham (800-850) 

  • Whitefriars St 79, Norwich (830-1200) accumulation layers

  • Upper Thames St, City of London (late Roman to 8th c)

  •  Rougier St York 81, York (400-850)

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O

oxlip

oxlip     oxan slyppe

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Season:

  • April - May

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Culinary:

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Medical:

  • Wiþ flié oxan slyppan niþewearde & alor rinde wylle on buteran 'For [white-spot in the eye] netherpart of ox slips and alder bark boiled in butter'

  • also in a remedy for 'theor'

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Notes:

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Literary:

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Species and Find Sites:

  • see primrose

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Etymology:

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P

potmarigold

pot marigold

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Season:

  • May - September (depending on when sown)

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Culinary:

  • intense colour and a peppery taste useful in soups, stews and puddings. Petals can be dried or pickled in vinegar or added to oil or butter

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Medical:

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Etymology:

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Notes:

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Literary:

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Species and Find Sites:

Calendula officinalis (pot marigold)

  • Whitefriars St 79, Norwich (830-1200) accumulation layers​

  • Coppergate 76-81, York (Anglo-Scandinavian) 

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primrose

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Season:

  • March - June

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Culinary:

  • decorate cakes with crystallized or fresh primrose or cowslip flowers. They can be frozen in ice cubes

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Medical:

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Etymology:

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Notes:

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Literary:

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Species and Find Sites:

Primulaceae (primroses)

  • River Exe 84, St Thomas, Exeter (900-1300)​

  • Eastgate Beverley 83-86, Beverley (750)

  • Abbots Worthy, nr Winchester, 1992, Hampshire (middle Saxon)

  • Coppergate 76-81, York (Anglo-Scandinavian)

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Genus includes Cowslip and Oxlip, both used in herbal remedies

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primrose

R

rose

rose     rose

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Season:

  • March - July

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Culinary:

  • all roses are edible with the more fragrant roses being the best. Petals can be crystallized, used to flavour drinks, sugar and even icing for summer cakes

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Medical:

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Etymology:

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Notes:

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Literary:

  • Ðære rósan wlite 'of the rose's beauty' King Alfred's Boethius

  • mentioned in Aelfric's Homilies referring to its beauty

  • rosan gesih# strengþa getacna# 'roses seen strength betokens' Bede' from Dreams

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Species and Find Sites:

Rosa (rose)

  • Graveney Boat 70, Graveney, 1978, Kent (10th c) wreck fill

  • Magistrates Court Norwich, Norwich (Whitefriars St site), 1988, Norfolk (1000-1150) pit fills

  •  Coppergate 76-81, York (Anglo=Scandinavian)

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V

violet

violet

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Season:

  • January - September

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Culinary:

  • Viola odorata (sweet violet) delicate flavour, suitable for sweet or savoury dishes as well as tea. Use candied violets and pansies as a garnish on cakes and soufflés

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Notes:

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Literary:

  • appel-leáf 'apple -leaf' simeringwyrt '?-plant' and sweart-h%wen 'violet hued' only appear in gossaries

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Medical:

  • could be the ban-wyrt referred to in Leechdoms

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Etymology:

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Species and Find Sites:

Viola spp (violet)

  • The Bedern York 76-80, York (580-900)

  • North Elmham Park 62-72, North Elmham, Norwich/Fakenham (800-850)

  • Lloyds Bank York 72-3, 6-8 Pavement, York (900-1100)

  • Coppergate 74, York (Anglo-Scandinavian)

  • Abbots Worthy, nr Winchester, 1992, Hampshire (middle Saxon)

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Resources:

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Enhanced DBS     Level 2 Hygiene Certificate in Food Handling     Allergen Awareness     Safeguarding

Public and Products Liability Insurance £12mil     Equality and Diversity     Health, Safety and Environment Awareness

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