History

A placename from a charter from the 10th century and the description of an ancient transaction offer clues related to the long sought after site of the Battle of Ashdown, an important win for Alfred against the Viking invaders of ancient Britain. Author Paul Harper argues that “Rammesburi,” which can be interpreted as “fort of the ravens," or "Raven's Fort" refers to the Weathercock Hill in Ashbury in Oxfordshire and is the location where defeated Vikings reportedly died in large numbers in 871. If his deduction turns out to be true, it will help to localize one of the very first victories of Alfred the Great in a landscape that has long been connected with this battle. However, as things