Expert: Malcolm Speechley - 7/23/2008

Question
I live in Bromboough on the wirral and was unaware until recently that the town is the likely site for one of the bloodiest battles in English history. Could you please tell me if this is correct?

Answer
Hello John.

The Battle of Brunanburh was indeed one of the bloodiest battles in English history and, although poorly documented, one of the most important, if not the most important battle in English History.

At the time of the battle in 937 England was not yet a fully united Kingdom. The Battle was fought between the Saxon King, Athlelstan, who was the grandson of Alfred the Great and a coalition of Scots, Welsh and Norsemen.

The slaughter was such that no one dared again threaten the Anglo Saxons until William the Conqueror in 1066. England, therefore, may be said to have been born at Brunanburh.

As for the Location of the site there are several possibilities that have been mentioned, among them Bromborough on the Wirral. Other frontrunners include Burnswark in Scotland and Axminster in Devon. Without any clear archeological evidence it is impossible to know the true site with any certainty.

The only clues given to the sources are that the battle was fought near "Browns fort" and near "The sea of Storms".

A description of the battle can be found in "The Anglo Saxon Chronicle" Which is available in almost every public Library.

Hope you find this helpful.

Malcolm.