THE BISHOP
The Bishop reflects on both old Weddington (Watitune) and the New Weddington Isles. The icon used here is the stylised head of a medieval ‘Plague Doctor’ who treated victims of the Black Death that struck in the 14th century and was the most devastating pandemic in the history of humanity, which affected the whole of Europe - killing 60% of Europeans: 50 million people of a total of 80 million inhabitants. The plague doctors invented masks to protect themselves from “bad air” and prevent contagion. As a direct result old Weddington lost many of its inhabitants to the plague and the houses were burnt down by the Lord of the Manor with the land used as sheep pasture. The New Weddington Isles retain some burnt remains from a house of this time in its State Artefacts Collection. |
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By 1491 old Weddington/Watitune was classed as a “Deserted Medieval Village” and in 1517 the village was demolished and turned over to parkland. 300 acres were lost, with 10 houses ruined and 60 villagers driven off the land, before the Village was eventually rebuilt in the early 1600s..
Over half a millennium later, a pandemic is once again stalking the globe in the form of Covid-19 and medical staff in masks are once again a symbol of this disease. Weddington village back in UK has seen cases and deaths and whilst the South Indian islands claimed by the New Weddington Isles remain Covid free, it’s Prime Consul ex aliena office is based in Canberra, Australia, which is seeing a steady continuation of this 21st century pandemic.
Over half a millennium later, a pandemic is once again stalking the globe in the form of Covid-19 and medical staff in masks are once again a symbol of this disease. Weddington village back in UK has seen cases and deaths and whilst the South Indian islands claimed by the New Weddington Isles remain Covid free, it’s Prime Consul ex aliena office is based in Canberra, Australia, which is seeing a steady continuation of this 21st century pandemic.
