Edith of Polesworth

Saint Edith of Polesworth (Eadgyth) was an Anglo-Saxon abbess venerated in the Kingdom of Mercia. She is traditionally linked to Polesworth Abbey in Warwickshire and the royal center of Tamworth in Staffordshire. Her historical identity is uncertain, with some traditions suggesting she was a daughter of King Edward the Elder, while others claim she was the daughter of King Egbert of Wessex. A 12th-century tradition connects her to King Æthelstan's royal marriage diplomacy, indicating she may have been married to Sihtric Cáech, the Norse-Gaelic king of Northumbria, before entering religious life.

Saint Edith's feast day, likely her death date, was 15 July, and she was especially venerated in the Midlands. She was buried at Polesworth, and her cult was prominent in the region, with several churches named after her. Her succession as an abbess is not detailed in the sources.