Battle of Assandun
Where is Assandun? – a talk by Richard Dolby
On 6th December 2023, Richard Dolby gave a presentation at the Hadstock Society AGM. This concerned an ongoing Battlefields Trust project which was set up to find the Battle of Assandun fought in 1016 between the English army led by Edmund Ironside and a Danish invasion force led by Cnut. Cnut won and became the King of England for 19 years.
‘Remembering: what’s the point of the past?’ by Revd Paula Griffiths
Held in St Botolph’s Church on September 15th 2016, Revd Paula Griffiths presented her views and led an interactive discussion with the attendees.
‘The Story of Hadstock’s Assandun Millennium Banners’ by Rick Albrow
Read the historical background to the Battle of Assandun in 1016AD and the early years of King Cnut’s reign as King of England. Rick Albrow discusses the people, events and objects which inspired the designs and the making of the four Hadstock Millennium banners in 2016. The story is also available as a booklet.
Saxons at the Hadstock Fete, June 2016
Regia Anglorum visited the Hadstock Fete in June 2016 as a forerunner to the Battle Reenactment Celebrations later in the year. The visit proved very successful and provided an opportunity for all ages to experience Saxon Life.
Prize winning entries from the Millennium Poetry Writing Competition, 2020
As part of the Millennium celebrations for St Botolph’s Church, a Poetry Writing Competition was launched, organised by Maggie Hartley. This was open to all ages and the theme was linked to the church’s ancient door, which is believed to be the oldest working door in the country.
Doors can often be seen as an opening into a different world, a move from one era to another, passing from the present to the future or the present to the past. They can be a symbol of a barrier that may need to be overcome- ‘one door closes another opens’.
Four villagers kindly volunteered to be on the judging panel and they received anonymised copies of the poems that were submitted. It was a close call but the overall winner was Doors written by James A Mufty. Three other poems were highly commended and all four of these entrants received a prize.
The poems are now published and we hope you enjoy reading them.
The Battle of Assandun re-enactment at Ashdon, September 2016
This re-enactment by Regia-Anglorum took place at Walton’s House in Ashdon on September 10th 2016.
Millennium Service, St Botolph’s Church, October 16th, 2016
On Sunday 16th October 2016, Revd Paula Griffiths, Priest at St Botolph’s, led a special service to commemorate the Battle of Assandun Millennium. The preacher was the Right Reverend Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury 2002-2012.
The Making of the 1016AD Millennium Banners
This series of pictures shows the four Millennium banners and the team of Hadstock villagers, led by Sonia Villiers, involved in their creation.
‘Remembering: what’s the point of the past?’ by Revd Paula Griffiths
Held in St Botolph’s Church on September 15th 2016, Revd Paula Griffiths presented her views and led an interactive discussion with the attendees.
Millennium Service Sheet, 16th October 2016
This is the order of service for the commemoration event held in St Botolph’s Church on the 16th October 2016 at which former Archbishop of Canterbury, Right Reverend Rowan Williams, was the preacher.
Pictures from the Millennium Service held to commemorate the Battle of Assandun, October 2016
On Sunday 16th October 2016, Revd Paula Griffiths, Priest at St Botolph’s, led a special service to commemorate the Battle of Assandun Millennium. The preacher was the Right Reverend Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury 2002-2012.
Saffron Walden Museum Exhibition and Activity Display at the Re-enactment, October 2016
During the summer children had engaged in activities at the Saffron Walden Museum relating to the Battle of Assandun. They created banners which were on display in the Museum Marquee at the Ashdon re-enactment event in September. A small display of Saxon artefacts added to the interest.
Choral Evensong for St Botolph’s Day, 19th June, 2016
As part of the activities to commemorate the Millennium of the Battle of Assandun, evensong was sung by the choir of St Mary’s Saffron Walden. The choir was led by their Director of Music, Oli King, and Jeremy Allan played the organ.
Programme for the Battle of Assandun Re-enactment, 10th September 2016
Read about the various events that took place the Battle of Assandun re-enactment held at Ashdon. The featured re-enactment group was Regia-Anglorum.
Choral Evensong for St Botolph’s Day, 19th June 2016
The congregation gathers for a special service on St Botolph’s Day, to commemorate the 1016 Millennium year of the Battle of Assandun. The Bishop of Colchester, seen by our Saxon door, preached a sermon on ‘The Open Door’
Programme of events for the Battle of Assandun Millennium Celebrations, 2016
This is the press release produced in April 2016 which shows the full programme of events planned between May and October that year.
Conquest and reconciliation 1016-1023: summary of talk by Prof Simon Keynes, University of Cambridge
This is the summary of the second of two talks on the Battle of Assandun 1016AD, and given by Prof Simon Keynes in St Botolph’s church on 10th June 2016. Prof Keynes describes the ways in which Cnut ruled England and his many acts of reconciliation, a king believed by Simon to be of equal importance to English history as Alfred the Great.
Summary of talk by Dr Sam Newton on the Battle of Assandun, 1016AD
On 19th May 2016, Dr Sam Newton, an independent scholar, reviewed the background and evidence surrounding this crucial battle between the English, led by Edmund Ironside, and the Danes, led by Cnut. Cnut won and a few months later, became King of England for nearly 20 years. This is a summary of the talk given in St Botolph’s church.
Four banners created by Hadstock villagers to commemorate the Battle of Assandun in 1016AD
Four banners created by Hadstock villagers to commemorate the Battle of Assandun in 1016AD