Reputed site of early 11th century battlefield, 'Battle of Assendun', and of early 11th century church, at Church of St Andrew, Ashingdon (EHER 13611)

Reputed site of Battle of Assendun (1016) between Cnut and Edmund Ironside.

Reputed site of Battle of Assendun (1016) between Cnut and Edmund Ironside. Saxon coin found. <1> Silver penny of Cnut found 1928. <2> There is no mention of a priest in the Domesday Book, which however only rarely records the presence of a priest or church, even where they are known to have existed. Local tradition holds that Ashingdon church owes its origins as a Minster erected by King Canute to commemorate the dead of the Battle of Assendune in 1020. A silver penny of King Canute was found in the churchyard in 1928, see EHER 13543. <3> NRHE data transfer: St. Andrew's Church: possible site of the battle of Assandune in 1016 between Canute and Edmund Ironside. Canute erected a minster on the site but there is no evidence of Saxon work in the present church (see EHER 34913, <4>), only some Roman bricks in the walls. <5> A silver penny of Canute was found in the churchyard in 1928. (See also EHER 36058, the other reputed site of the battle.) <4> <5> <6> Controversy has surrounded the location of the site of the Battle of Assandun since well back into the 16th Century, and was re-opened in 1925 by M Christy, who proposed the site of Ashdon (near Hadstock - see EHER 36058). A critical factor in the discussion is the interpretation of the Anglo Saxon Chronicle account of the battle in 1016: 'When the King [Edmund] learnt that the army had gone inland, for the fifth time he collected all the English nation; and pursued them and overtook them in Essex at the hill which is called Ashingdon, and then stoutly joined battle there.' <6> The name of the battle is given variously as Assingdon in Essex, Assendun (William of Malmesbury), Assendune (Roger of Hovedon) and Assandun (Florence of Worcester). <7> The earliest writer to assert definitely that the battle was fought at Ashingdon seems to have been Camden in 1586. He produces no evidence whatever to support his assertion. Similarly, Stow's assertion that the battle was fought at `Assenden in Essex, neere to Rochford' was quickly contested and many later writers rejected it altogether, placing "Assandun" at Ashdon. Christy adds a footnote that Bishop Gibson appears to be among these, for he assigns the battle to "Ashdown". The context shows, nevertheless, that the place he really had in mind was Ashingdon. Here, Christy inadvertently points out problems of interpretation of place name evidence, which for his own case he asserts so definitely. <8> The solution to the problem appears to be found more on topographical evidence. The natural conditions that existed at the Ashdon site before the 11th century are attested by a series of dykes that do not continue onto the clay in the Ashdown/Hadstock area, perhaps indicating that whenever they were built, a forest existed and was sufficiently impenetrable to make any other defence unnecessary. Even today it would be difficult to draw up a line of battle say 5000-10000 men on the high ground between Ashdon and Hadstock. The Danes well understood the essential value of the close proximity of the sea and the safe refuge afforded by the fleet, and Canute's tactics are very plainly shown by the manoeuvres that ended in the battle of Otford. It is therefore in the highest degree unlikely that Canute would have placed himself fifty hazardous miles from the sea at the end of 1016 since he had already been forced to rely on the aid of his fleet to extricate himself from disaster on two occasions that year. <9> The final piece of evidence is the presence of battle relics. There have been found in the churchyard at Ashingdon parts of a shield, a spear, and also a silver penny of Canute. There are no battlefield relics at Ashdon. Christy's argument (taken up also in RCHM Essex 1) that St. Botolph's Church at Hadstock (EHER 36058) is the `mynster' erected by Canute to commemorate his victory poses difficulties. The minster was at Assingdon, but Hadstock is not Assingdopn nor even Ashdon. If, as Christy asserts, Canute had his camp on top of the hill at Ashdon, he would have strong reason for building the minster here than in preference to anywhere else. <7> <8> <9> Smurthwaite sites the battle somewhere between Ashingdon hill and Canewdon, supposed site of Canute's Camp (see EHER 13415). <10> The site of the Battle of Ashingdon is thought to have been located in one of a few possible areas. One of these is in Ashingdon, Rochford in Essex. The battle was fought in 1016 as a result of Danish invasion of England. The Battle of Ashingdon is also known as the Battle of Assundun, the Battle of Assingdon, the Battle of Assandun and the Battle of Assendun. The 990s had seen many raids by the Danish on England and in 1016 they were led by Cnut (Canute). They sailed with a fleet of 160 ships and besieged London twice and raided across the country. The Vikings were forced out of London by King Edmund ‘Ironside’, the English King and went up the River Orwell and into Mercia. King Edmund, along with Earl Eadric, overtook Cnut at Ashingdon Hill in Essex; the location of the battlefield is disputed. Not much is known about the events of the battle itself but it is thought that Edmund was fighting on top of a hill with Cnut below him. Edmund seems to have been betrayed by Eadric who fled from the battlefield taking his men with him. Cnut became the victor of the battle and killed many English earls and Edmund escaped to Deerhurst in Gloucestershire. He was followed by Cnut and was allowed to retain Wessex due to a treaty that was drawn up. Cnut became king over the remainder. Edmund’s death in November of the same year meant that Cnut became the king of the whole country. <11> The National Grid Reference for the proposed site of the battlefield is: TQ86599359. <12> NRHE summary description: Possible site of the Battle of Ashingdon which is thought to have been located in one of a few areas. One of these is in Ashingdon, Rochford in Essex. The battle was fought in 1016 as a result of Danish invasion of England. The Battle of Ashingdon is also known as the Battle of Assundun, the Battle of Assingdon, the Battle of Assandun and the Battle of Assendun. The 990s had seen many raids by the Danish on England and in 1016 they were led by Cnut (Canute). They sailed with a fleet of 160 ships and besieged London twice and raided across the country. The Vikings were forced out of London by King Edmund ‘Ironside’, the English King and went up the River Orwell and into Mercia. King Edmund, along with Earl Eadric, overtook Cnut at Ashingdon Hill in Essex; the location of the battlefield is disputed. Not much is known about the events of the battle itself but it is thought that Edmund was fighting on top of a hill with Cnut below him. Edmund seems to have been betrayed by Eadric who fled from the battlefield taking his men with him. Cnut became the victor of the battle and killed many English earls and Edmund escaped to Deerhurst in Gloucestershire. He was followed by Cnut and was allowed to retain Wessex due to a treaty that was drawn up. Cnut became king over the remainder. Edmund’s death in November of the same year meant that Cnut became the king of the whole country. Parts of a spear, shield and penny of Canute have been found in a nearby churchyard. Note: See also EHER 7312 for a record for an alternative location for the battlefield.