The Isle of Athelney - Where Alfred the Great beat the Danes in 878

“ 'Ca'sn thee mind the ke-aks, man ; an' doosen zee 'em burn?

    I'm boun thee's eat 'em vast enough, az zoon az tiz the turn.”

Some say swineherd Benewulf's wife cursing King Alfred for letting the cakes burn.

                                                                       ©Somerset Genealogy (UK) 2012

The Isle of Athelney is best known for once being the fortress hiding place of King Alfred the Great, from where he went on to defeat the Danes at the Battle of Eddington in May 878.
Archaeological excavations and written evidence indicate that at the time of Alfred the island was linked by a causeway to East Lyng, with either end protected by a semi-circular stockade and ditch. The ditch on the island is now known to date from the Iron Age. It is therefore presumed that the Isle was known by Alfred to have been an ancient fort, and that its existing defences were strengthened by him. Evidence of metalworking on the site suggests that he also used the island to equip his army.

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