Reposted by @sue69.bsky.social
#DidYouKnow that the earliest document held by Kent Archives is quite possibly the oldest possessed by any county repository in the United Kingdom? 📜👀
It's a charter issued by King Wihtred granting freedom from taxation to the churches and monasteries of #Kent, AD 699
☟ See U140/T1: bit.ly/4lioB0h
![Shown here is a charter issued by King Wihtred (c.670 – 23rd April 725) granting freedom from taxation to the churches and monasteries of Kent, AD 699 [ref. U140/T1]
Dated at Cilling, the witnesses include Archbishop Berhtuuald; Gemmund, Bishop of Rochester; Tobias (Gemmund's successor); and Hadrian, described as 'indignus monachus' – a colleague and advisor of Theodore of Tarsus, a former Archbishop of Canterbury.
This charter was purchased by Sir Albert Stern at Sotheby's in 1946, for presentation to the county. Some information as to its previous history can be gained from its endorsements. It was sold by Messrs Puttick, auctioneers, in 1861 and purchased by Sir Thomas Phillipps. Prior to this it was probably in the Surrenden Dering collection for 200 years – Dering's ownership indicated by marks of a saltire cross in a circle and a Greek letter Delta. An earlier endorsement, possibly dating to the late 12th century, indicates that it was formerly preserved at Christ Church.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:o3vof7rjobhzoxvub42zxtot/bafkreihkns4nrw25pllz3hrvso7gkn3llsmyorhowtp2ymdi7xqupvbcgm)
