Battle of Wodensfield

Councillor Phil Bateman said "I receive many emails and other correspondence concerning articles that are written on my web site. I recently posted my views on the important 'Battle of Wodensfield'. I have received more than a passing interest in the article.Is Time Team reading this?"

A reader from Bushbury writes.......Read it and see what you think!



Dear Councillor Bateman,



The Battle of Wednesfield, on August 5th & 6 th, in 910



I refer to the article in the Express and Star, on Saturday, 23 December 2006, concerning the possible commemoration of the Battle of Wednesfield.



I share your interest in the Battle of Wednesfield. I have a copy of a small book “Wednesfield, the Field of Woden” written by “John L. Smallshire”, which was Published, in 1978, by the Wolverhampton Branch of the Workers Education Council. This gives more details about the Battle of Wednesfield and sources for the surviving written accounts of the Battle.



As a regular viewer of the television programme, “Time Team”, I know that there are many known Roman and post Saxon Sites, in the UK, but the records of Saxon times are much rarer, because they tended to build in Wood, which decays over time, rather than in Stone.



You are probably already aware of the “Warriors Tomb”, which is a pile of very large Boulders, just to the North West of St. Mary’s Church, Bushbury. I was born in Wolverhampton, in 1948, and I have lived in Bushbury for most of my life. I cannot even remember who told me about the “Warriors Tomb”. It is part of the local folk memory of the area. As you know, these can often contain a grain of truth, which can be altered over the years, because it is a verbal rather than written record.



Local legend has it that the “Warriors Tomb” is the Burial Place of a number of very important Warriors, amongst thousands, who fell at a very ancient Battle. I believe that this was the “Battle of Wednesfield”, or originally the “Battle of Odin’s Field”, which was fought between the Saxons and the Danes.



I wrote to Mr Tony Robinson, of Time Team, on 25 June 2003, suggesting that they excavate the Warriors Tomb”, to see if any artefacts from the “Battle of Wednesfield” remain. I attach a copy of this letter, for your information.



In my letter, I referred to my earlier conversation with one of his Producers, Mr Jeremy Cross, whilst some of the Time Team was filming in Rosemary Crescent, Goldthorn Hill, Wolverhampton, on Monday, 23 June 2003. Mr Cross explained to me that they have found that Battle Sites do not often provide good television for Time Team, as the finds are normally widely dispersed and they only have three days to reach a conclusion.



However, in view of the great historical importance of the “Battle of Wednesfield” and as there is a very small recognised site, with the possibility of High Status finds within it. I feel that it would be well worth carrying out at least a preliminary Geophysical Survey and a Metal Detector Survey of the “Warriors Tomb”. If these indicate that Grave Goods could remain, a proper archaeological dig could prove very rewarding.



I received a polite acknowledgement card, from the Time Team, but I was not contacted again later.



I have also discussed the “Battle of Wednesfield”, with our well known local historian, Dr. Carl Chinn. He considers that, historically, the “Battle of Wednesfield” is as important to the make up of our Country, as the “Battle of Hastings.” Because it was the beginning of the end of the “Danelaw” and it is one of the reasons why we now speak English, rather than Danish.



I attended a Lecture, about his work in Somerset, given by Professor Mick Aston, who is another member of the Time Team, on Wednesday, 29 November, at Wolverhampton College, Paget Road, Wolverhampton. I was able to speak to him, only very briefly, before the lecture, as he had to drive home to Somerset, immediately afterwards.



Therefore, I gave him copies of similar information to that which I had posted to Mr Tony Robinson, on 25 June 2003. Unfortunately, the result was the same and I again received a polite acknowledgement card, from the Time Team, but I have not yet been contacted again.



As you are a Councillor and an ex-Mayor of Wolverhampton, you are likely to have much more influence with the Time Team, than an ordinary resident of Wolverhampton, as I am.



According to the book “Wednesfield, the Field of Woden” written by “John L. Smallshire”, which was Published, in 1978, the battle was fought between the Saxons and the Danes, between about 908 and 911. At that time the exact date was uncertain, as the surviving written accounts differed. I assume that further research has now established that the exact dates were August 5th & 6th, in 910.



Until I read the article in the Express and Star, on Saturday, 23 December 2006, I was not aware that the Battle of Wednesfield was commemorated on an enamel badge hanging down from the Chains of Office of Wednesfield Urban District Council. I suggest that the Time Team should be made aware of this, by someone with your influence. Perhaps they could then be persuaded to carry out a preliminary Geophysical Survey and a Metal Detector Survey of the “Warriors Tomb”; with a view to having a possible full investigation on the 1,100th anniversary of the Battle, on August 5th & 6th, in 2,010?



Do you know if the Express and Star has had any feedback, from any other readers, with more local knowledge about the battle? If there is more evidence available, perhaps this could also be forwarded to the Time Team?



Yours sincerely