Echester

Echester
City
View over Echester
Country	Great Nortend
County	Suthrepourdeland
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,000
Area code	SUEC

Echester is a cathedral city and county seat in east Suthrepourdeland, Great Nortend situated in the Chemleyweld hills. It derives its historic significance from Echester Cathedral, dedicated to St. Edmund, an 8th century martyr who set up camp on the site of the current cathedral. He was killed by the forces of the local heathen counts, and upon his death, it is reputed that water sprung up from the ground and washed away Edmund's blood, and by extension his sins. This is said to have resulted in the conversion of his murderers and of the local counts. The name of Echester derives from the older Edmundchester, meaning „Edmund's Camp”. As of 2020, it has a population of around 12,000. It is a centre for the wool trade, as well as being a major local religious and administrative centre.

Echester Cathedral

Echester Cathedral is the seat of the Lord Bishop of Echester and the home to the Cathedral Priory, a community of around 30 black monks and a prior, who form the cathedral chapter. The Bishop of Echester is the titular abbot of the Priory. The Cathedral Priory church is dedicated to St. Mary and St. Edmund and was completed in 1344. The location of the High Altar is directly above the 8th century location of St. Edmund's Spring, also known as the Converts' Spring, which continues to flow to this day, beneath the nave. Phials of holy water from the spring may be obtained by pilgrims from the Priory Almoner.

Echester School

Echester School is the school of the Cathedral and educates around 500 boys. In addition to local boys, it is one of the so-called „Great Public Schools” of Nortend and attracts students from across the country. Boys from Echester may matriculate at Middlehall, Aldesey, which was formed from a merger of Echester Hall and Tow Hall in 1390.

Culture

Echester is particularly known for its sheep and wool industry. A by-product is sheep's milk, which is famously turned into Echester cheese, a semi-soft sheep's milk cheese. A particularly prized variety is known as Monks' Echester, which is washed in the waters of St. Edmund's Spring.

A curious sort of local bread is known as pilgrim's bread, and is made with the addition of beechnut flour. It is provided to pilgrims and is also popular on St. Edmund's Day.