One of our members has recently established three pilgrimage tours that tell the story of England’s birth by following in the footsteps of the founders and discovering the many historical sites that mark key moments in the story. The ‘King Alfred Origins tour’ includes a visit to the site of the battle of Ashdown, Alfred’s first victory over the Danes, along with his Capital Winchester and the Ashmoleum museum to see the famous ‘Alfred Jewel’. The ‘King Alfred Exile Tour’ follows Alfred’s flight from Chippenham to his refuge at Athelney, where he prayed fervently and reportedly received a vision of England’s future unification from St Cuthbert. After a night on Athelney we visit the rallying point of Ecgbert’s stone and the site of the battle of Edington. The ‘Æthelstan and EthelfledTour’ then continues the story through the lives and conquests of Alfred’s children Edward and Ethelfled, right through to Athelstan’s conquest of York and the great meeting at Eamont Bridge, where England was born in the year 927AD. These tours will run on selected weekends and require pilgrims to provide their own transport. Please see the website birthofenglandtours.co.uk or click the link for more details. Email: birthofenglandtours@gmail.com
King Alfred Origins Tour
This two day (one night) tour investigates the origin story of England’s greatest King, Alfred the Great. Beginning at Chippenham we travel east to the sites of Alfred’s birth and his first victory against the Vikings. The first day includes both of these sites, as well as a visit to the Ashmoleum Museum in Oxford to see the famous ‘Alfred Jewel’. After this we travel south to Winchester, the ancient capital of Wessex and the resting place of its greatest kings, including Alfred himself. After spending the night in Winchester we follow the story to Wareham and Swanage, where a huge Danish fleet was destroyed, thwarting a massive attack on Wessex. After this we travel back to Chippenham, stopping at Shaftesbury and the site of the decisive Battle of Edington.
King Alfred Exile Tour
This two day (one night) tour follows the exile and return of Alfred the Great from his royal residence at Chippenham to his Island refuge at Athelney and his famous military victory at Edington. The Danish attack on Chippenham in January 878AD forced Alfred to take refuge in the salt marshes of Somerset with his young family and a small band of Thanes. We spend the night at Athelney after stopping at Glastonbury Tor and the site of the battle of Cynuit, where the men of Devon miraculously defeated a band of Danes as they attempted to reach Alfred by entering the river Parret. The following day we follow the route of Alfred’s glorious return to Chippenham, stopping at the rallying points of Ecgberth’s Stone and Isley Oak, as well as the site of Alfred’s decisive victory, the Battle of Edington.
Æthelstan and Æthelfled Tour
This is a longer tour than the Alfred tours because it involves traveling over 600 miles from Chippenham right up to Eamont Bridge in Cumbria. This mean that it is a 3 day tour with one night in Chester and the other in Penrith. This is a tour of many important sites in the lives of Alfred’s daughter Æthelfled, known as ‘The Lady of the Mercians’, who ruled Mercia from Tamworth and raised the young Æthelstan in her royal court. The centerpiece of the tour is the location of England’s political birthplace at Eamont Bridge, as well as the probable site of the Battle of Brunanburh on the Wirral, where this agreement was tested on the battlefield, solidifying England as a permanent reality.
Photo Credits: Alfred Statue Wantage: Phillip Jelley. Alfred Jewel: Giles Watson. Alfred statue Winchester: Brian Deegan. Old Sarum: Mark Edwards. St Martin on the walls: Hugh Llewelyn. Swanage monument: Gary Rogers. Alfred Statue at Shaftesbury: Seth Whales. Glastonbury Tor: David Levy. Burrow Mump: Stephen Richards. Alfred monument at Athelney: Simon Birchell. Cannington Camp: Ken Granger. Ecgbert’s Stone: John Potts. Alfred Tower: Eugene Birchell. Westbury White Horse: Roger Gitlins. St Oswold’s Priory: Phillip Halling. Tamworth: Phillip Halling. Caedmon’s Grave: Ksenia Bramley. Cuthbert’s Grave: Tilman. Ruthwell Cross: Derek. Brougham Castle: Asgerd Warrior. Athelstan Grave: Arpingstone. Chester walls: Eirim Evans. Mayberg Henge: N. Chadwick. Giant’s Grave Penrith: WF Millar. Ye Ole Trip to Jerusalem: Mat Fascione. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en