Perhaps more importantly it was the site of the baptism of the Saxon court of King Edwin in 627AD.
Its name means Edwin's resting place because King (and Saint) Edwin of Northumbria's body was hidden in the church after he was killed in the Battle of Hatfield Chase, near Doncaster, probably in 633.
Bede tells us that a residence was built at Maelmin to supersede Edwin of Northumbria's residence of Ad-Gefrin at Yeavering.
Pellitus was a Spanish astrologer of the seventh century, who worked for Edwin of Northumbria, in the account given by Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Edwin Lutyens | Northumbria | Edwin Booth | Siward, Earl of Northumbria | Edwin M. Stanton | Edwin Starr | Edwin of Northumbria | Edwin Hubble | Edwin Franko Goldman | John Edwin Sandys | Edwin Edwards | Edwin Bidwell Wilson | Edwin A. McAlpin | The Mystery of Edwin Drood | Oswald of Northumbria | Edwin Torres | Edwin (musician) | Edwin Markham | Edwin Lankester | Edwin Forrest | Edwin Catmull | Edwin Abbott Abbott | Edwin | Æthelfrith of Northumbria | Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria | Oswiu of Northumbria | Frederic Edwin Church | Edwin Santibáñez | Edwin Muir | Edwin Mellen Press |
King Eadbald, whose sister St. Ethelburga married the pagan King Edwin two or three years before, recalled that this wedding resulted in Edwin's conversion.
The dramatic overthrow of this temple in 627 AD by the high priest Coifi upon the conversion of King Edwin of Northumbria is related by St Bede in his History of the English Church and People (Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum).
The barrow was originally known as Cwichelmeshlaew or Cwichelm's Barrow, and is historically recorded as the site at which Cwichelm of Wessex was killed by Edwin of Northumbria in 636.
What is known from history is that in 588 King Ælla of Deira died, and Æthelfrith of Bernicia took the opportunity to invade and conquer Deira, driving Ælla 's 3-year old infant son, the future Edwin of Northumbria, into exile.