Sativola, also known as Sidwell, was an 8th-century Saxon Christian living in Devon, England. The daughter of a wealthy landowner named Benna, she is remembered as a virtuous maiden who frequently provided food to local laborers working the fields. According to legend, her stepmother, motivated by jealousy over her inheritance and beauty, arranged for her execution. She is recognized as the patroness of Exeter and is identified as the sister of Juthwara.
Life and legend
Following the death of her father, Sativola faced cruelty from her stepmother. Tradition holds that she was beheaded by reapers using a scythe. It is said that a spring of water emerged where her head fell, and a shaft of light illuminated the location for three nights. She was eventually laid to rest at the site that became known as St Sidwells.
Veneration and legacy
Her shrine was a significant pilgrimage site during the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods. In Exeter, her presence is preserved through Sidwell Street and the Church of St Sidwell, which was rebuilt after being damaged in the Second World War. She is often depicted in art holding a scythe near a well, and her image appears in stained glass and various regional churches.