I was wondering where you got your evidence that the river Tame flowed through Wednesfield and further west, through Tettenhall? I live just North, in Cannock. Obviously a lot was lost when the canals came to the Midlands. Do you have any particular references to hand, as my search has proved fruitless.

We (my 8-year old son and budding localist like myself) were dighted at the mention of Penkridge in “Pagan Lord” abd he pored over the pafes at the front if the novel that contained the Anglo Saxon place names and translations. We were hf expecting the Staffordshire Hoard to turn up at one point, so close Uhtred was to its place of discovery.  Rory, my son, was part outraged, part impressed at Uhtred’s insults to the Dabes (though is too well mannered to use them himself) .

Many thanks for this book; I’ve just borrowed “The Empty Throne” from the library.

Lucy Lugg