Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Somerset, Athelney [Map]
Athelney, Somerset is in Somerset.
Athelney, Somerset [Map] means "Island of the Princes". Originally an island, surrounded by the Somerset marshes before they were drained, the island has a causeway at its western end by East Lyng.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 878. This year about mid-winter, after twelfth-night, the Danish army stole out to Chippenham [Map], and rode over the land of the West-Saxons; where they settled, and drove many of the people over sea; and of the rest the greatest part they rode down, and subdued to their will;-ALL BUT ALFRED THE KING (age 29). He, with a little band, uneasily sought the woods and fastnesses of the moors. And in the winter of this same year the brother of Ingwar and Healfden landed in Wessex, in Devonshire, with three and twenty ships, and there was he slain, and eight hundred men with him, and forty of his army. There also was taken the war-flag, which they called the RAVEN. In the Easter of this year King Alfred (age 29) with his little force raised a work at Athelney [Map]; from which he assailed the army, assisted by that part of Somersetshire which was nighest to it.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Around 12 May 878. Then, in the seventh week after Easter, he rode to Brixton by the eastern side of Selwood; and there came out to meet him all the people of Somersersetshire, and Wiltshire, and that part of Hampshire which is on this side of the sea; and they rejoiced to see him. Then within one night he went from this retreat to Hey; and within one night after he proceeded to Heddington; and there fought with all the army, and put them to flight, riding after them as far as the fortress, where he remained a fortnight. Then the army gave him hostages with many oaths, that they would go out of his kingdom. They told him also, that their king would receive baptism. And they acted accordingly; for in the course of three weeks after, King Guthrum, attended by some thirty of the worthiest men that were in the army, came to him at Aller, which is near Athelney [Map], and there the king became his sponsor in baptism; and his crisom-leasing was at Wedmor. He was there twelve nights with the king (age 29), who honoured him and his attendants with many presents.
The River Tone rises at around Clatworthy Reservoir [Map] from where it flows through Clatworthy, Somerset [Map], past Huish Campflower, Somerset [Map], Waterow, Somerset [Map], Stawley, Somerset [Map], Kittersford, Somerset [Map], Thorne St Margaret, Somerset [Map], Tonedale, Somerset [Map], East Nynehead, Somerset [Map], Bradford-on-Tone, Somerset [Map], Barr, Somerset [Map], through the centre of Taunton, Somerset [Map] to which it gives its name.
From Taunton the River Tone flows past Creech St Michael, Somerset [Map], Mare Green, Somerset [Map], Athelney, Somerset [Map] to Burrow Bridge, Somerset [Map] where it joins the River Parrett.
Europe, British Isles, South-West England, Somerset, Athelney Abbey [Map]
Assers Life of Alfred 94. 888. 94. Monks brought from beyond Sea.251 First he placed there [Map] John252 the priest and monk, an Old Saxon by birth, making him abbot; and then certain priests and deacons from beyond sea. Finding that he had not so large a number of these as he wished, he procured as many as possible of the same Gallic race253; some of whom, being children, he ordered to be taught in the same monastery, and at a later period to be admitted to the monastic habit. I have myself seen there in monastic dress a young man of heathen birth who was educated in that monastery, and by no means the hindmost of them all.
Note 251. Original.
Note 252. Cf. chap. 78.
Note 253. Cf. chap. 78.
Assers Life of Alfred 95. 888. 95. A Crime committed at Athelney.254 There was a crime committed once in that monastery [Map], which I would [not]255, by my silence, utterly consign to oblivion, although it is an atrocious villainy, for throughout the whole of Scripture the base deeds of the wicked are interspersed among the reverend actions of the righteous, like tares and cockle among the wheat. Good deeds are recorded that they may be praised, imitated, and emulated, and that those who pursue them may be held worthy of all honor; and wicked deeds, that they may be censured, execrated, and avoided, and their imitators be reproved with all odium, contempt, and vengeance.
Note 254. Original.
Note 255. Supplied by Stevenson.
In 888 King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex (age 39) founded Athelney Abbey [Map] following his victory at the Battle of Edington.
Assers Life of Alfred 92. 888. 92. Alfred builds two Monasteries.246 Concerning his desire and intent of excellent meditation, which, in the midst both of prosperity and adversity, he never in any way neglected, I cannot in this place with advantage forbear to speak. For, when he was reflecting, according to his wont, upon the need of his soul247, he ordered, among the other good deeds to which his thoughts were by night and day248 especially turned, that two monasteries should be built, one of them being for monks at Athelney [Map].249 This is a place surrounded by impassable fens and waters on every hand, where no one can enter but by boats, or by a bridge laboriously constructed between two fortresses, at the western end of which bridge was erected a strong citadel, of beautiful work, by command of the aforesaid king. In this monastery he collected monks of all kinds from every quarter, and there settled them.
Note 246. Original.
Note 247. This corresponds to the OE. sāwle þearf.
Note 248. The Latin has: inter cetera diuturna et nocturna bona. Stevenson does not emend, but it seems as though we should read diurna. Compare, for example, in Stevenson's edition, 78. 14, 35, 39; 99. 10; 100. 11; 103. 9.
Note 249. Cf. chap. 55. The second monastery was for nuns, and at Shaftesbury [Map]; see chap. 98.
In 1539 Athelney Abbey [Map] was dissolved; the value of the rubble was £80.
Time Team Series 1 Episode 1: The Guerrilla Base of the King was filmed between 16 Apr 1993 and 18 Apr 1993. It was originally shown on 16 Jan 1994.
Location: Athelney Abbey [Map].
Category: Time Team Early Medieval.
Time Team:
Tony Robinson (age 47), Presenter
Mick Aston (age 47), Bristol University Landscape Archaeologist
Gerry Barber, Bristol University Environmental Archaeologist
Phil Harding (age 43), Wessex Archaeological Trust Field Archaeologist
Carenza Lewis (age 30), Royal Commission on Historic Monuments
Robin Bush (age 50), Archivist
Victor Ambrus (age 58), Historical Illustrator
John Gator, Chris Gaffney, Geophysics
Gerry McDonnell, Archeaological Scientist.
Base: George Hotel [Map] in Wedmore.
Techniques: Field Walking, Excavations, Magnetometry, Resistivity, Soil Coring
Sources: Life of Alfred by Asser, Assers Life of Alfred 878.
Historical Figures: King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex, Guthrum Viking.
Events: Battle of Edington.
Outcomes: Plan of Athelney Abbey [Map], possible site of original Saxon church, Anglo-Saxon iron slag indicating iron working; the furthest west found at the time.