Romsey Abbey is unusual in that there are ten instances of corbels showing faggots of wood; this is rarely seen elsewhere in the UK.

 

   These bundles of wood strapped together with cord, were in all probability created to commemorate the abbey's management and acquisition of woodland from the King or other personages.

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   Ownership of woodland in medieval days was the equivalent of owning an electric Power Station today: it was the life blood of a community, it provided the resources to generate heat for warmth and cooking, light to see by, building materials to construct shelter, mills and fencing, power for the forging of tools and as a valuable asset with which to trade by.

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   Three feet long faggots of twigs and brushwood were also used to stabilise marshland, strength sides of ditches, sweep floors and to burn heretics at the stake.*

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Sadly, there are communities in developing countries where wood is still relied upon for the main source of fuel in daily life - even today.

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* In 1686, Romsey lass Esther Ives, the wife of William Ives, the Romsey inn keeper of the 'Hatchett' pub Newton lane, was burned at the stake in Romsey Market Place for adultery  - her lover John Noyce was executed there for the murder of her husband.