Before the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons Þunor was one of the most popular gods, based on place name evidence e.g. Thurstable (hundred), Thundersley, Thursley, Thunderlow and Thundridge for example refer to him. These are all located in the south-east of England (Essex, Surrey, Hertfordshire). When we see 'ley' or 'leagh' on the end of a place name it refers to a sacred clearing in the woods used to worship the Gods. Thor is also referred to on The Gosforf fishing Stone in a boat famously fighting off the serpent in the waves below.
There are examples of the symbol of Thunor being inscribed on early Anglo Saxon cremation urns and some brooches. The runes on the Loveden Hill cremation urn – one of the earliest extant examples of writing in English are one of these. Also in regard to written evidence Ælfric of Eynsham was an English abbot and a student of Æthelwold of Winchester, and a consummate, prolific writer in Old English. Ælfric refers to a thunderclap as Þunor rad, or Þunor ’s riding in his many texts/ manuscripts.
Worship of a thunder god, such as Jupiter or his counterparts among various tribes, was popular with the Roman legions. This included the Germanic mercenaries stationed in Britain. Thunor was associated with Jupiter as a thunder-wielding sky-god, and his day, þunresdæg (Thursday), corresponds likewise with dies Jovis in the Roman reckoning. A lot of the Roman temples / shrines to Hercules and Jupitor in Britain were actually thought to be for Thor, used by these Germanic mercenaries as Germanic runes were enscribed upon them instead of latin letters. This was often the case when Romans built shrines for others. Look up Romano Interpretato where Romans used their own Gods names to describe the Gods of other peoples.
Þunor has also been linked with the winter bonfires of English folk tradition. Bonfire Night dates back to 1605 and the Gunpowder Plot, but it supplanted much earlier pagan ceremonies linked to fire and the feast of the dead when the thunder god was venerated, according to the author and academic Ellis Davidson. (look up his books sometime)
the village of Hoff in Cumbria, with an associated Hoff Lund, "temple grove may have included a shrine to Thor. There are several letters from the Pope telling bishops in England to keep pagan temples and shrines intact but to completely change them to xtian worship removing all evidence of the old ways. The picture below is a reproduction of a 6th century Thor's hammer found in Kent England.
While xtians have had 1500 years to destroy anything related to the Gods of the English some of us will NEVER forget! Hail Thor Hail the Gods FFF Admin Gary Image: ---- Carved sculpture of Þunor’s Hammer, Holme Pierrepoint; photo by P Wicks, 2018 ---- The Gosforf fishing stone ---- reproduction of 6th century Thors hammer from Kent.
