The Legend of the Wolf of St Edmund

The legend of St Edmund is told in the town using sculpture on the roundabouts around the town

St Edmund was an Anglo-Saxon King and ruled East Anglia between 855AD and 869AD.

He was killed by Viking raiders. They shot arrows into him until he bristled like a hedgehog, then the cut off his head and threw it deep into the briars in the forest.

Edmund’s body was found by his followers, they heard a voice shouting “Here,here,here” they followed the sound and found the head guarded by a wolf. When the head was put back with the body it miraculously become reattached. This was felt to be a sign of sainthood and many miracles were then attributed to Edmund and his shrine in Bury St Edmunds became a place of pilgrimage. This resulted in the growth and prosperity of the Abbey and the town.

To watch the installation of the wolf sculpture please Click here.