Have We Found the Lost Battlefield of Brunanburh?

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

One of the things love about these shows is they keep us interested in the real history behind them

[@abulrex_h4771]

most people hate learning history from shows and games but they are stupid asl i swear games and tv shows are like a time machine it’s basically witch craft how lucky are we to have a tiny glimpse of probably how it was living in history

[@mattmurdoch5575]

Actually, as someone mentioned below, I think it would be great to have Stuart from time to you coming to survey the land. His eye at interpreting the landscape is extraordinary and he is capable of interpreting detail in the landscape that others seem to miss. His contribution to something so important Would be a valuable thing to have.

[@davidsullivan7743]

You can see Stewart Ainsworth in the background working on site

[@frankhoeppel2314]

Thank you for asking multiple pertinent questions and allowing the subject matter expert time to answer thoroughly. Saddened by how rare this is, but thankful I’ve found it here.

[@mushroom-mac617]

I grew up just around the corner from this site I know exactly were you are. I live about a 1500 yards away we moved there in the 70’s onto a housing estate being built, I remember as a child we had to dig our own drainage a few neighbours helped each other I remember my neighbour (who’s now dead unfortunately ) dug up a spear head and also found a small axe head they sat in his garage for years. The axe head and spear tip were found close to brimstage road.

[@KernowekTim]

Dan loves it. And that, is what makes it. Watching Dan examining the artefacts coming from pocket to hand, shows Dan's deep love for our ancient and not so ancient past. Good man.

[@mikepelosi9877]

I've been a fan of history since I've been a young lad (one of the few subjects that kept my attention and GPA up in school) but, for some reason, the Last Kingdom has drawn me into English/European/Nordic history more than any other historical drama. And I say this with all due respect: it's a shame the show didn't get a bigger budget and more marketing. History Hit, as always, has done a fantastic job tying in the real underlying history and bridging the gap between entertainment and reality. By centering major historical events on biggest players involved, History Hit brings the drama and makes the details necessary to understand how the real stories played out that shaped the world.

[@alancoe1002]

Super-viking Egil Skallagrimsson was a friend of Æthelstan's and present at this battle. An account of it is in Egil's Saga. Thanks for the history spade-work and dedication.

[@andrewhart6377]

A Mercenary. Many Normans signed up on the other side as well (typical)

[@murrayscott9546]

I've read Egils Saga and love it for it's description of greed, deception, plotting and all the things I've seen of what takes over and xestroies families . Do you know where the gold is buried ?

[@David-oi7im]

... the war vestiges found on that field had me mesmerized,, I mean a thousand years ago, how much more history do you need to certify this ground as truly historic!!!

[@bobfunkhouse8437]

I have lived in Bromborough and all my life and the is a old court house in the village and the urban legend is that the archers sharpened their arrows on the wall before the battle. Also local history says it was fought on Bebington common which is gone today but ran between Bromborough and Bebington which is mostly built on now. Having spent a few years reading about this battle and knowing the local geography, if the battle did happen here i think the best and closest landing spot for boats would of been the modern new ferry shore. That would put them within a two to four miles (there about) of the possible battle sites. With it saying the Vikings were drove back there ships. Will also add that Wirral also has a big natural rock in Thurstaston Common nature reserve that is called Thor's rock, which apparently comes from Vikings of the time.

[@FlashyVic]

The name Thurstaston sounds like it might derive from Thor too.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Best wishes from deepest Prenton....

[@juliemercer1458]

I'm by Leasowe Rd.....peeps back then would have seen the ships sailing down the river......maybe.

[@Bobario1]

@@FlashyVic I believe it means Thors Stone.

[@wendylorimer5663]

@@Bobario1 Settlement (ton) at Thor's stone 👍

[@ImolaS3]

I only found this site around xmas 2022 and love it! So much interesting material and so well presented - loved the end of year quiz too :)

[@FreeFallingAir]

I'm absolutely fascinated by this time in English history. Thanks history Hit

[@knockshinnoch1950]

Fascinating. I had never heard of this battle despite its importance in the history of how England and Great Britain were formed.

[@EvoraGT430]

The Normans tried to erase all history prior to 1066.

[@Cara-39]

So many people assume that British history began in 1066 but this battle is essentially the starting point. Also, the only 2 English rulers given the epithet "the Great", Alfred and Cnut, reigned before the Norman Conquest

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

I was very interested and excited when this video appeared in my feed. Brunanburh is the one of the most important battles in the history of the English-speaking peoples that the average person has never heard about. The amount of the artifacts found by the Wirral group in the probable location is very encouraging!

[@julianshepherd2038]

You think the vikings, Irish and Scots were English speaking?

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

@@julianshepherd2038 They all did after Brunanburh.

[@Alun49]

Utterly fascinating. I watched The Last Kingdom finale a couple of days ago. To see artefacts from the actual battle fields is fascinating.

[@gujjewman96]

You should also watch the new movie.

[@Gang-zy7lq]

​@@gujjewman96 I think he means the film

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

The books are much better,as usual.

[@Gang-zy7lq]

@@howwwwwyyyyy I not no about tha movie decent every one to ther own

[@mondom6332]

Destiny is all !!

[@jannerkev]

Brilliant. This Makes sense of the battle shown on the TV film. Now we know it was close to the Wirral.

[@glynluff2595]

From the comments made it would seem possible that the Mercians gathered in Chester because the Roman Walls of Deva would still have stood to some degree thus giving a certain area of protection.

[@julianheath2718]

Worth mentioning that close to this site, is a ridge (now Storeton Woods), and running down either side of this, are two lanes with interesting names, perhaps pointing to conflict: 'Red Hill Road' and 'Rest Hill Road'.

[@thedrumdoctor]

Or it could be reference to the ancient Roman sandstone quarry which Storeton woods now occupies.

[@julianheath2718]

@@thedrumdoctor Yes, that could be a possibility - I forgot about that!

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@julianheath2718 Tom Sleman a local author has written extensively about the hauntings around the battle site...

[@julianheath2718]

@@eamonnclabby7067 Thanks - will check out. I like Tom Sleman's books.

[@NailahRoberts]

Bromborough is my neck of the woods and I was brought up being told that there was a Viking battle in Bromborough.

[@dannybennett3697]

Stephen Harding book called ingimunds saga Norwegian wirral

[@jimwhelan4485]

I’m from the Wirral too, there is lots of Viking history here and I have no problem with Brunanburgh having been Bromborough. they came over here from Ireland.

[@charlesbarnett2724]

Only half an hour from me too Nailah. I've strong family connections with Wirral and a sprinkling of Scandinavian DNA apparently (although mostly a Welsh English split)😂 It makes me wonder what happened in the camp 😄

[@Wessex90]

I live nearby too. It’s by accident that I moved to this area not knowing that this is Brunanburh (despite reading the poem). A friend told me in passing.

[@MseeBMe]

This is astounding; a huge tip of the hat to the Wirral Archaeology group!

[@Aswaguespack]

Good stuff. Glad to see the reveal of the location of an historic event.

[@ToniCherub]

My family’s surname go back prior to 1066 & I found myself moving to a place where our ancestors have lived & didn’t even know about it until I went to the church with our name there on a slab it’s fascinating how far we all do go back !

[@Cara-39]

So many people consider 1066 to be the beginning of British history but this battle is essentially the starting point. Also, the only 2 English rulers given the epithet "the Great", Alfred and Cnut, reigned before the Norman Conquest

[@adventussaxonum448]

Cnut wasn't English. "Rulers of England", maybe?

[@Atom1990-m2j]

So William the Norman was English?

[@shawnbenson7696]

​@@adventussaxonum448 Cnut used as his base and where he raised the money to create his kingdom.

[@ianbaker8225]

@@adventussaxonum448 sorry to nit-pick but Alfred wasn't a ruler of England but King of Wessex.

[@chrisar2252]

I think referring to Cnut as "the Great" in England is a new thing, he didn't do anything to merit that. But you are right, Alfred, Edward the Elder, Aethelfead (ruler of Mercia and who raised and educated Aethelstan), Athelstan, as well and Edmund 1 and Edgar the peaceful, were seriously important early rulers.

[@harbourdogNL]

Fascinating indeed. And she sure knows her stuff- not a pause, not an um or an ah. Refreshing to hear knowledgeable delivery without pause.

[@rastadan90]

it is her job ...

[@KernowekTim]

👍

[@Jenissuperhero]

It looks like Time Team has a new location! I’d love to see them do a dig here.

[@davidsullivan7743]

If you look in the background of some of the shots, you'll notice Stewart Ainsworth working on site.

[@murrayscott9546]

The more that I learn about the history of us all - here, there and everywhere - the more I feel that we are all under the same Sun, in all our wisdom, ignorance, anger and beauty. Thanks, crew for your dedicated work.

[@daejavue69]

As a massive fan of Bernard's Cornwell last kingdom & his Sharp series has shone a light in an exciting way of our British History & the Birth of England as a nation . He follows the early battles led by King Alfred the Great , Aethelstan being his grandson & the king at the time of the Battle of Brunanburh , cementing the kingdom in to one Engaland . Following this story of where the great battle took place has been a history jigsaw , still to completed & my money is on the great work the Wirrel Archialogical have been dong over the years & thank you BC for igniting my interest in our history .

[@barle5566]

In this year, King Æthelstan, lord of earls, ring-giver of warriors, and his brother as well, Eadmund ætheling achieved everlasting glory in battle, with the edges of swords near Brunanburh. They cleaved the massed shields, hewed the battle-wood, the relics of hammers, of the heir of Eadweard, as it suited their heritage, so that they often in battle defended their lands, treasures, and homesteads against every one of the hateful- (1-10a)

[@christopheraliaga-kelly6254]

What about Alfred Lord Tennyson's adaptation?

[@charlesbarnett2724]

Wonderful. Is that a bit of the Anglo Saxon Chronicle?

[@barle5566]

@@charlesbarnett2724 yes

[@snacks1184]

Luckily he had Utred on his side.

[@stephennelmes4557]

I'm from Yorkshire, spent most of my working life at sea ( RN/RFA), and was in the Wirral area last night on a delivery drop discussing this very battle with a colleague. I have always found this battle😅 fascinating and have a passion for history. Claire 16:24 is absolutely gorgeous. Brains and beauty, a winning combination.

[@kevdimo6459]

Thanks again for another great video, I’ll be watching for the follow up.

[@williamanderson5437]

It was Norwegian Vikings from Dublin, but note a 'breakaway' Norwegian 'group' had seperated from Dublin in 902ad and settled on Wirral, which still has a large Norwegian DNA (up to 50% in 2022, see Prof Stephen Harding). Bernard Cornwell in his 13th Last Kingdom novel confirms Wirral Archaeology's work. Red Hill Road on Storeton Woods was said to have 'run red with blood after the battle' in 937 - folk lore, as personally known.

[@SEnnever]

Viking DNA: The Wirral and West Lancashire Project Paperback - Illustrated, 19 Feb. 2015, also written by Prof. Turi E King from the Richard III project at Leicester Uni. This was her first project and had some very conclusive results.

[@AnthonyEvelyn]

I really hope this is the battle site, been reading about this epic battle for decades. The use of Lidar and other imaging technologies will aid in confirming if this is the area of the great battle.

[@marc8631]

After watching Vikings and of course The Last Kingdom my interests in UK is so grown a lot. Amazing the history of England wow. Hope to visit the country once. 🙏

[@Dannyboyefc]

I’m glad the series brought to light the battle and used the Wirral as the potential location.

[@richardbradley2335]

knew it was going to be around there.

[@barbarossarotbart]

Do you know what I like on all of your documentaries? The fact that you include uncut interviews with scientists. Most modern documentaries cut those interviews in a way that makes them look if they support the theory of the presenter, even if this is not the case. I've got the feeling that it is more important today that a documentary correlate with the current Zeitgeist and not with historical facts. (The best example for this is Netflix' Cleopatra documentary, but sadly it is not the only one.)

[@admiralbenbow5083]

There are lots of ideas as to where this was fought. All I can say is that in the name I hear, a fortification (burh, old English), and I hear a well (Brunnen in German, Brunn in Swedish).

[@Go-Dawgs]

This is Exciting & What An Excellent Job those metal Detectorist have done!! Thank You so much for Sharing with us.

[@soulfate2]

Very good very interesting.. love the passion of archeologists and others ..they do wonders in their work so important

[@richardmann145]

Can't believe this isn't all over the news & Universities & Government aren't going crazy over this find. It's the start of Nation States in the British Isles. So glad there's people out & about bringing our history alive. God bless em

[@BigMrFirebird-ne1wt]

They're not going crazy because it's not by any means remotely proven. There is no evidence that Bromborough even existed as a place name back then until the C.12th and no plausible theory of how the army of the Scots journeyed there.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

It was a wonderful historical coverage about that remarkable battle that shaped Britain 🇬🇧

[@cymro6537]

I just hope that this field is guarded to stop any unscrupulous treasure hunters.

[@johnlanddigging1987]

They would need a J.C.B to dig down to that level. You wouldn't hear a peep on a normal detector. I've been all over the wirral and been moaned at by the likes of you but it will never stop me. I look for gold and silver not rusty swords and crap spears.

[@pipins3616]

That’s the British museum, the place where things disappear

[@jonathandnicholson]

Very interesting. I shall post this to some people I know who live in the Wirral.

[@vipertwenty249]

Looks like Regia Anglorum reenactors there. Nice to see some better authenticity for once. Use them more. When we're talking about lost battlefield sites - it would be nice to find the site of the battle of Hastings. The only thing we know for certain is that it wasn't on the English Heritage site in the town of Battle.

[@jonathantitterton9455]

I don’t think it’s Regia, looking at the kit and shield designs I think it’s Free Warbands of England.

[@vipertwenty249]

@@jonathantitterton9455 Never heard of 'em. As other reenactment groups go they don't look too bad.

[@jonathantitterton9455]

@@vipertwenty249 they’re….questionable when it comes to kit, if you look at them there’s a lot of Rus style armour and equipment which would’ve not been seen on an English battlefield.

[@vipertwenty249]

@@jonathantitterton9455 True.

[@mccblarney]

Anything found near to the coast that may or may not relate to the battle , could only make its case to be a base camp for the warrior fleet. The Saxon Chronicle describes the battle taking place a days fast ride on horseback from the landing area. They need to look further afield than the Mersey area. If they can pinpoint the site, I for one, will be so happy. It has been an all consuming passion of mine for the last 45 years.

[@rogueriderhood1862]

I remember, many years ago, watching Michael Wood's series 'In Search of the Dark Ages', the programme on Athelstan, and Dr/Professor(?) Wood suggested the site of the battle was at Tinsley, near Sheffield.

[@jonathantitterton9455]

That wouldn’t make sense because that’s in the middle of Saxon territory and too far inland for the Hiberno-Norse contingent. Also the Etymology doesn’t make sense meanwhile BROMBROUGH on the Wirral makes sense.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

​@@jonathantitterton9455 Bernard Cornwell would agree with you 😅😅😅

[@jonathantitterton9455]

@@eamonnclabby7067 which is good to know since he’s known to do extensive research into the period before writing his novels. Plus it’s just basic common sense

[@eamonnclabby7067]

​@@jonathantitterton9455 he actually came here on the wirral, was presented with a dagger retrieved from the battle site by Wirral archeologists...😊

[@BenSHammonds]

very good program, fascinating subject, these early battles

[@rosariocatlin4845]

I don’t know if you have found the lost battlefield but DESTINY IS ALL

[@saltyfruits3961]

DESTINY IS AAAALLLLLLL

[@wywk]

Arseling!

[@gb3007]

@rosariocatlin4845 Weird bid ful araed = Fated is inexorable (unstoppable) The term weird when applied to a person used to mean touched by fate.

[@IrishInsomniac76]

wyrd bið ful aræd

[@StixDarKlor]

@@gb3007 It’s spelling in this context is Wyrd, which is what Bernard Cornwell uses but really glad to see someone use the term properly….I really can’t stand Destiny is all!

[@Jin-Ro]

You can see how Brunanburh would evolve into Bromborough. Wirral has known historical links to the Norse. It's about half a mile from the Mersey river. Chester was an English stronghold. A field full of military artifacts for the relevant period. It's an exceptionally strong candidate.

[@dannybennett3697]

Ingimunds saga Norwegian Wirral by Stephen Harding great read

[@eamonnclabby7067]

bennett hear,hear...😊

[@alancoe1002]

Bron was an ancient God of these parts

[@nemo6686]

@@dannybennett3697 Not much on Ingimund and more a collection of themes than a saga. Also, it appears to me that his disdain for 'antiquarians' leads him to mistreat topics: for instance, dismissing the naming of _Thor's Stone_ in Thursaston as Victorian invention is to suggest that the guy who rides the steam train has a more vivid attachment to nature than the Viking settler; and chortling about how silly people believe Cnut did his tide thing out of madness adds absolutely nothing to why he actually did it. So the smart people know he was teaching a lesson about the limits of earthly power - but why would he feel the need to do it _there_ and _then_ ? It's puzzling to me that Cnut the Great was a virtual North Sea Emperor, yet the act for which he's most-remembered is given so little serious consideration.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Excellent, best wishes from deepest Prenton on the wirral peninsula,bounded by the mersey and the Dee and the Irish sea...geography and rhyme ❤❤😊😊😊

[@fingazblank]

I have never heard of this battle, I love history but I'm just a casual and just like nearly probably maybe a good percentage only found out by the TV show the last kingdom. Thank you, now all we need is utrids sword

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

Read the books!

[@natalieeis9284]

"Call me Uhtred, or, from time to time, you may wish to call me Arseling" 😁

[@markstallman1670]

Keep up the great work on this important battle, and remember there is an amber pommeled sword somewhere out in that turf!

[@julianheath2718]

Absolutely fascinating!

[@Nebulasecura]

Destiny is all! And rest in peace Utred!

[@ML-bw4yt]

Uhtred didn’t even live at the time of this battle lol

[@Nebulasecura]

@@ML-bw4yt I know.

[@fred869]

The telling of this great story would be helped by the use of maps.

[@darklingeraeld-ridge7946]

Fifty years and more afterwards, it was still widely referred to simply as ‘The Battle’. Egil Skallagrimsson’s saga says he fought there, with Aethelstan, and his brother was killed in the battle, for which he received two chests of silver from the king. It massively impacted the identity of these islands. There should be every necessary commitment of resources to investigate this potentially crucial British historical site, properly.

[@andrewhart6377]

Not Battle, but 'Great Battle' as it was. The Irish accounts put their death Toll down as being near 35,000. Considering the Populations of the British Isles in those times, Per Capita, this would rival any Battle of WW1 in Terms of Combatants and Losses for a Set-Piece conflict, possibly even dwarfing them.

[@rwcowell]

I am very Excited that the Brunaburh battlefield has been finally located. There are so many Viking Age battlefields that we still haven't definitively located. Even the Hastings battlefield has never been fully established as to where the actual battle was fought. There is so many artifacts and information that could tell us more about how the battles were actually fought, the real number of participants, the type of gear and weaponries that was utilized. I hope we can soon find Edington's battlefield. IAC this is Amazing news!

[@666johnco]

I would love to see Dan Snow have a conversation with Michael 'the battle was fought in the east of England' Wood about this. Isn't there a theory from the people who hold that opinion that a military camp does not a battle make. This would be for the presentation of a balanced opinion as other historian's state that as the camps time of existence cannot be dated it could have been from troops of .Edward the Elder or Æthelflæd conducting operations to secure the northern frontier of Mercia.

[@666johnco]

A lecture by Michael Wood as to why he thinks the battle took place in Yorkshire. BTW as a Cheshireman I have no personal objection to it being on the Wirral. I just point out there are other opinions kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3TCdZ2Nipd7pKM

[@wedgeantillies66]

He, Michael Wood, did an article in BBC history magazinr a few years back, putting forward five different sites as to the battle's location including wirral as one of the five. If memory served he still plumps for site on borders of ancient Mercia/Northumberland border in south Yorkshire, given available evidence, from chronicles and archelogy. As for him, wirral camp is not a smoking gun, given it has only been dated to 10th century and therefore can easaily date from other eras of conflict during that century.

[@666johnco]

@@wedgeantillies66 Yes the example his opinions is a lecture from two years ago where he is still firmly situation the battle in south Yorkshire. This camp being at the literal border bet ween Mercia and Northumbria you have possibilities such as The cam pains by Æthelflæd and Edward the Elder to secure that border by building Burhs along the river. It could relate to Athelstan's earlier campaigns or indeed to the site of the battle of Brunanburh. Further on it could relate to some defensive preparedness from the war fought with Northumbria in 948 after they un-united by inviting Erik Bloodaxe to become their king.

[@wedgeantillies66]

@@666johnco Yes, indeed he is still firmly adamant in that belief and with good reason. As fortified camp found in the wirral could date from any period of major conflict between Saxons and Vikings during reign of Edward the elder right through to those of his sons, including those of his sister too. Plus find dismissal of oh vikings couldn't have landed a fleet in the humber as chronicles state to be rather biases, given Athelstan had done exactly the same in reverse before Brunanburh during his invasion of Scotland by land and sea, after only a couple of decades of having major shipbuilding prowess. So vikings, the sea power without equal of the age, could done such a feat easily..

[@wedgeantillies66]

@@666johnco Thanks very much for the link as Wood made a very persuasive argument as to why he comes down as to the battle's location in Yorkshire. Although suspect this is a historical argument that like the actual fate of the princess in the tower will run and run for many centuries until a smoking gun is found. Yeah, think that would make for a great video, something he has form for as he did a great video with Saul David on start of Zulu war and opening battles for this channel, so not beyond the realms of possibility.

[@thisoldnurse1521]

Canadian here 🇨🇦 Love learning about history, now I do have a suggestion, would it be possible for you to put up some maps as many watching cannot figure the location. It is fine if you live in Great Britain but for the red, we don’t know where the Mercy River is or the other river. Please we would like points of reference.

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

The Mersey is the river that Liverpool is on,the wirral is on the other side between The Mersey and the Dee.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Try The King in the North by Max Adam's,vividly described the British Isles of 400 to 700 AD

[@blxtothis]

They should have asked Bernard Cornwell where it happened!😊

[@markhand4530]

geographically the location makes a lot of sense. I am not an historian but clare from liverpool university mentioned that vikings were already established in that area from earlier times after having to withdraw from Ireland. I am sure i read something about this they was given permission by a king of wessex or mercia. They obviously would have been sympathetic to the vikings from dublin and fought with them.

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

It's on the edge of what was called the Danelaw,England was split along a road called Watling street,that ran from the Wirral to London,it's the A something now

[@nevamind68t23]

Fascinating, thank you 👍🏾

[@HistoryHit]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed

[@glenchapman3899]

Going to admit I have never heard of this battle. But given the amount of skin all the leading players had in this makes Hastings look almost like a side show

[@helpmaboabb]

Likewise the Battle of Deorham in 577, which I'd never heard of but was just as important further down - South Wales and Cornwall & Devon

[@sammyholman2566]

There is an old map of the wirral showing the supposed location of the battle Wargrave, I'm sure they must know about it

[@glenchapman3899]

Maps can be notorious though. The battle of Bosworth field was a well defined mapped battle site, till it was not

[@davidhynes9683]

It was known the battle was in Bromborough. for a long time. Very surprising it has taken such a long time to arrive at this examination of the fields. Bromborough very flat. There is an ancient poem about the battle, between Northerners and Southerners who controls Britain, the poem describes the River Mersey and its distinctive brown colour.

[@DaveSCameron]

Battle of Connahs Quay is the only battle I recall with Tranmere Rovers vs Wrexham. ⚽🇬🇧📚

[@NEEJER]

Will be resumed next season 😮

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@NEEJER Prenton park awaits...😊

[@willgibbons1733]

We love you Aethelstan 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@kernowboy137]

Speak for yourself 😢

[@willgibbons1733]

@@kernowboy137 yeh, obviously. Who do you speak for?

[@kernowboy137]

@@willgibbons1733 I suggest reading some history with a particular focus on “that filthy race” expelled from Exeter to the other bank of the River Tamar.

[@adventussaxonum448]

​@@kernowboy137 That was necessary, so that Devonshire folk could eat their scones properly. 😄

[@willgibbons1733]

@@kernowboy137 you are english now though, aren't you?

[@sigliumantiqua.1002]

Great to see that the research being done by detectorists is being appreciated by historians. The Battle of Hastings site has been called into doubt and it seems that little research has been done (since the Time Team dig) by English Heritage who have more or less shrugged off the lack of evidence. The mystery of the site of the Battle of Watling Street (61 CE) is still unsolved. There should be vast amounts of lost weaponry where supposedly 80,000 Britons fell. I think we need more responsible detectorists to help solve both these mysteries.

[@gordonbryce]

Very well presented and explained but the Cumbrians were an old Welsh kingdom stretching from the river Clyde to the borders of the English, what we now call, the Lake district. This was not clarified here excepting the lower Clyde valley(Glasghu, old Welsh for 'dear green place'. If we discount the usual accumulated propaganda around the outcome of battles, this outcome is less clear in fact. I would suggest a withdrawal of king Constantine's forces after his Viking allies retreated first? The outcome is possibly more of a close-run thing after many hours of fighting, heavy causalities and weariness, as it seems to have been primarily a battle fought without heavy cavalry but shield wall pushing and hacking and striking against shield wall?

[@benjaminrush4443]

Great Stuff! Thanks.

[@karmad3269]

High middle age struggles for increasing or creating new kingdoms are so interesting as far very few is known by sources and traditions. Same everywhere in old Europe and England...here in Italy too😊

[@leanneknowles2290]

I love my history... i would love to go see some old castles... i love vikings and early english history.... nice to see some scenes from the last kingdom film.... i enjoyed this episode....

[@CajunRed]

Is this a series? If so, is the series on DVD? Very interested American, that has Norwegian/Scandanavian as well as Scots/English/Irish/English ancestry. I'm just trying to fill in the gaps as much as I can. The artificats are awesome as well. I'm also, the person that if my wallet were thicker; I'd be buying antiques every chance I could! Great job, everyone!

[@robertlubel734]

Most interesting. Would be really awesome to find the battlefield between King Arthur and Modred which is documented but strictly lore.

[@damo5701]

I thought it took Olaf Guthfrithson many days (weeks?) to get back to Dublin, indicating he was not fleeing from the Wirral which would only be a day or two journey.

[@jonathantitterton9455]

It depended on the direction of the wind because they relied on sails. If the wind wasn’t blowing constantly westward they would’ve had to sail whichever the wind was blowing and it would take longer to get back to Dublin.

[@Bobario1]

I remember reading somewhere they stopped on the isle of man for a while to recover.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@jonathantitterton9455 indeed, the tides from Morecambe bay down to the Menai straits are very treacherous...

[@BigMrFirebird-ne1wt]

He didn't get back until the following year. Most folks reckon he overwintered in Alba (Scotland) or Strathclyde (sub-kingdom of Alba).

[@the_rover1]

Sounds like a splendid site for a new time team episode, doesn't it?

[@stevekeenan4212]

I grew up in Bromborough and went to St Barnabas primary school, our teacher at the time said there had been a big battle around the Bromborough area. I was about 9 years old at the time so around 1966. He was correct by the looks of it. Good old Mr Maddox 🙂

[@WargamingHistory]

Will be following this location with interest

[@lenjames]

Has there ever been discoveries of human bones that might be of the warriors of these great battles?

[@rhysnichols8608]

Thing is most bodies, if not all, were likely removed after the battle to be buried or maybe cremated in a proper mass funeral

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

@@rhysnichols8608 - Would they be cremated? I don’t know. The Viking tradition at least was to leave the bodies exposed so ravens could feast on them. Most battlefields have a few burial pits where bodies were thrown in haste.

[@damedusa5107]

Depends on the soil, most ones would be long gone

[@robshaw3655]

any news on the buried boat by the Railway Inn ,Meols.?

[@ianphillips9455]

I was told a few years ago by a person who was involved in finding this battlefield that an agreement had been made to do a test drill to carbon date a boat that had been found there but then Covid happened so not sure if any progress has been made.

[@doncook2054]

Absolutely stunning! The concentrations of "metal" are key.

[@michroz]

A map of the place and the metal findings locations and the suggested armies' positions would be absolutely lovely to see in this video along the talking! What is the History without the maps?

[@frontenac5083]

So thieves could go and pillage the site? What a brilliant idea.

[@nemo6686]

They're deliberately being coy to prevent interference. Where they are, that's a good idea.

[@damedusa5107]

It’s apparently near Brackenwood golf course, around that general area.

[@pipins3616]

@@damedusa5107 not quite

[@damedusa5107]

@@pipins3616 not quite?

[@horuslupercal9936]

Very exciting news for Dark Age Britain enthusiasts.

[@justonecornetto80]

Indeed. I really hope this is Brunanburh because it will undoubtedly yield a huge trove of artifacts that could change our understanding of Saxon England.

[@davidhynes9683]

Surely the ancient mention of the River Mersey was enough to tell that it was Bromborough.?

[@Darrenski]

Yeah but common sense and academics always have to butt heads, as the academics are always more interested in putting forward their own ingenious opinions rather than what seems utterly obvious. I'm in preston where the largest viking hoard was ever found and I suspect it was probably deposited whilst on the run from this battle. It looked like enough to pay an army with and they never managed to come back for is, so something tells me they buried it in a hurry then shortly after got killed or captured. So imo it has to be in the northwest. The idea that they would sail from Ireland all the way around the treacherous waters around the island is madness. Of course they'd have gone A to B as fast and direct as possible and it provides the perfect meeting place for their allied forces. I've never considered the alternative idea it was fought somewhere in the east to lack any evidence other than something someone scribbled down 300 years later. It just has to be on the wirral, and then I'd guess in the aftermath when it was every man for himself it spread further. And those trying to get back north or to Scotland (alba) would obviously have to cross the Ribble at some point, and the hoard was found very close to the old roman Fort, so that was obviously a very ancient route north/south.

[@Kfinnerty6853]

I heard that Æthelstan's objective was to get a massive geological tow rope to drag the Wirral near to the Isle of Man and turn it into a leper colony. The technology wasn't available at the time though so he just had a big battle instead.

[@richardchapman842]

absolutely brilliant

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Show us the Runes already what name was on the object???

[@morriganmhor5078]

Northumbria was in no way Pictish territory, so I do not know what tharchaeologistist speaks about. Yes, Highlander tried to invade southlands much more often than the English went north - because, before oil was discovered, why should they? Scots were for the whole Middle Ages and Renaissance something like a fifth column serving French interests for free.

[@morriganmhor5078]

And also, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria was just not the same as the Scandinavian Kingdom of York which became the thing only after conquering the local dynasty. What is not said here also is that the kings of Northumbria founded Edinburgh and other towns/castles that Scots fought for many hundreds of years after.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Try the King in the North by Max Adam's,vividly described the British Isles of 400 to 700...including Nechtansmere...

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

The auld alliance came much later,the French had their hands full with Viking raids themselves

[@morriganmhor5078]

@@howwwwwyyyyy i should Havel written high Middle.

[@morriganmhor5078]

@@howwwwwyyyyy 937 was more than 25 years after Rollo and his band obtained future Normandy from Charles the Simple. But at that time, the raids were already ending, as Scandinavia began to Christianize. But you´re right that de iure the Auld Alliance began only at 1295, though the Scots or at least their marchers never lost any opportunity in raiding England, were there any disturbances there.

[@davebolan7282]

Thought you may have looked near the River Brun in Burnley. Brunlea in the domesday book.

[@ianphillips9455]

Bromborough is just down the road from this site. Thingwall which is "Assembly Field" in Norse is also a couple of miles away.

[@pipins3616]

Was the field used as a spoil area when the motorway was built , if so it’s the wrong area I assume, maybe the filmed location was a red herring?

[@lvg1865]

Has it even been explained anywhere how or what it would mean to fight a whole day? Would troops break up for a cup of tea? Or where they simple more men then us to the could keep it up all day? Moves are moves I know, but they are all right at it. Or where battles more organised, and every hour an additional men where send in for example?

[@Newyork964]

Is this dig site in bebington ? Maybe brackenwood.

[@davidsullivan7743]

From the traffic noise, it sounds close to the M53. That general area has long been suggested as a possible site of the battle

[@04nbod]

Shhh... Don't draw out the treasure hunters

[@davidsullivan7743]

​@@04nbod good point, I'll edit my comment

[@jayonenote7527]

Bromborough?

[@DextraVisual]

@@andrewdawson2185 There's an area called Red hill just west of Bromborough pool. When I was a kid my Dad told me it was an old name for the bloody fields of the Brunanburh battle site. The pool was a lot wider in the 10th century and could easily moor an army of longships. It seems local folklore can often hold a kernal of truth.

[@MrSunlander]

History Hits is All!

[@saxoncodex9736]

9:32 the problem here is the sheer logistics of taking a maritime army, overland, 110 miles with no roads and a minimum 1,000 feet of elevation, to York, it is a lot more hard work, than sailing 24 hours a day around the north coast of Britain. You load your boats, and are off. Going overland, you need to keep striking camp, also remember no roads, and 1,000 feet of elevation, and it is an army, 8 miles a day would be good going, in fact 6 miles a day would be excellent? Both would take about a fortnight, but the sailing would be easier 🙂 The name Bromburgh does give a lot of weight to the, location, but the mindset of the maritime Dublin Vikings, says out with the long boats.

[@johnfisher697]

Don't forget others were involved, and Viking fleets had been shattered before, In the North of England they were for the most part safe in the "Danelaw".

[@davidsullivan7743]

The sail around the north coast of Scotland is not quite so simple. The Vikings would have been very familiar with it of course and this means they would also have been well aware of its hazards. Cape Wrath is well named and the Pentland Firth can be treacherous. 500 years later the Armada found this out to their cost. On the other hand a 70 mile journey acroos the Irish Sea would have put them right on Mercia's doorstep and well placed to bring their allies across the Mersey

[@jenniferharrison4319]

Yes, and even a 70 mile journey across the Irish Sea can be perilous if she is angry

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

Use rivers and Roman rds,its what the Vikings did.

[@donaldpyper4627]

Taking a large army by sea is no easy feat: 300 years later king haakon tried to subdue Scotland with an invasion but an autumn squall scattered his boats (many captain weren’t keen and went home) and his remaining army defeated at the battle of Largs.

[@bobito8997]

Michael Wood doesn't think so. That's a significant dissenting voice. Would have been nice to have heard from him in the documentary.

[@rogueriderhood1862]

Yes indeed, in his programme on Athelstan in his series 'In Search of the Dark Ages', he suggested the battle was fought at Tinsley, near Sheffield.

[@alansmithee8831]

​​@@rogueriderhood1862 I have been discussing this with a Viking fan from Bromborough this last year. He has been calling me king of Danelaw as a result on Scotland History Tours. I suggested he also watch History With Hilbert. I had seen Michael Wood's TV series long ago and known about Bromborough from a friend at university who lived there, who got Society of Ancients newsletter on this about 1987, whilst I was painting a Viking wargames army.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

​@@alansmithee8831 gtsu ,sir,best wishes from the Hiberno Norse peninsula of the wirral...😊..E

[@wulfheremercianwarrior2747]

Real English history is being suppressed by Cultural Marxists

[@pharaohmedjaylawofmedjay2680]

Pretty Cool Stuff So Many Nationality All in Same place

[@letiekllib]

"The prerequisite of all intelligent tinkering, is that you maintain all the pieces." A. Leopold.

[@leobulero3485]

after seeing that pommel, somebody in this battle must have been ended rightly with it

[@24934637]

Would be a shame if they hadn't, after all, it is the primary purpose of a pommel! LOL.

[@nicholasalderson3727]

To clarify this 'lost find'.. Michael Wood wrote back in the 1985 and then in 1994 that this battle was situated in this location. Only the metal detectorists were missing at the time to provide archaeological support to his detailed analysis. Michael studied and used traditional historical studies to define the location. It takes contemporary historians to ignore past studies and spin their 'discoveries'.

[@bertiescunsbutch9323]

This is a fantastic discovery.

[@adeck79]

I’m from Wirral. Where the heck is this site exactly? 🙂🙂🙂

[@pipins3616]

Next to the motorway judging the background noise