Norden - Autumn Saffron Crocus and the Da Vinci Code

Two sites overlook Norden, where the Autumn Saffron Crocus (Crocus nudiflorus) grows and flowers. Apart from a few sites in the Midlands, odd places,and a large saffron industry in Spain, the next home of the plant is the Middle East.

Saffron (Chemical name crocin) is the water soluble carotenoid dye that gives colour to Chorizo sausage from Spain, paella and of course saffron cake. It is found in the anthers of the crocus (see pic) and the finest source is said to be Iran followed by Turkey. It is now clear that the Crusaders returned from their work suppressing the Saracen and Mussulman, with crocus bulbs, cherishing it's religious overtones and probably it's alleged aphrodisiac qualities.

It is clear now that the Rochdale sites (and there are 11 known - 1 new one has been found this year) are relics from lands owned by the Knights Hospitallers, who owned land around Rochdale. Details can be found in the "Coucher Book of Whalley" which is a 12 Century listing of lands that paid rent to Whalley Abbey - perhaps the most famous locally was Simone de Balderstone.

So when you look out from Norden cricket club above you are the sites of the saffron crocus and the ancient lands of the Crusaders.

These upland areas, bleak, windswept, never saw the plough and these relicts are left as a mute symbol of our Island history, right in the heart of our village.

Unlike the Da Vinci Code hoopla ...our connection is real.

Lest we forget

Norden war memorial, already bearing poppy wreaths.

I frequently stop and read the roughly carved inscription, whose direct speech carries across the years - this year as our lying Prime Minister lays false claim to the export of Freedom, further wastes national treasure and life in Iraq, it's inscription seems ever more relevant.

Erected by
The Inhabitants of Norden
In honour and ever grateful memory
Of THE MEN OF THE DISTRICT
Who nobly,forgetful of themselves
At the call of the KING and country
Left all that was dear to them
Endured hardness, faced danger
And finally gave up their own lives
That others might live in Freedom

An example for all time
Of stedfast courage

1914 - 1918

Emile Durkheim's Division of Labor in Society,[1] argued that improved transportation and communication in the industrializing world would someday eradicate the territorial units which had formed the basis of traditional society, so that counties, departments and so on would someday simply fade away.

If we compare Norden at the time the memorial wa consecrated, the village was industrious, powered and fed by moorland streams originally, followed by coal, most residents would work either within the village or in some of Rochdale's nearby mills, using the then new public transport. Datestones on the terraces designate the growing pains of the fast developing enterprise culture of the mid / late 19th century.