Dear Mr Cornwell.

Thank you for the very enjoyable books I’ve read over the years .

Your books and adaptations have renewed my interest in history to what it was when I was early into school. Local to me are Broadclough Dykes which have long been thought to be part of the battle. However present concensus is that it happened on the Wirral . Regardless the dykes (which I still haven’t been too even though its only 20 mins away). are close so I started looking at old maps of the area . Lockdown has given me time to study the way I wish  had in younger days .I found a map by going off in tangents as you do on the net which is from a book in 1909 which shows the area where the battle was alleged to have been fought and even discusses buildings which were recently demolished to build a factory (1909 recent ) The Old Danes House where it was said that King Anlaf rested on his way to the Battle.

below is a sample text

 

We are told that Anlaf entered the camp as a spy, and ascertaining the position of Athelstan’s tent, formed the night attack for the purpose of destroying him. Athelstan, however, leaving for another part of his position on the Brun, gave Wersthan, Bishop of Sherborne, the command.

 

I would not be so presumptuous to send you all the link as you may be very familiar with this. However if it is something you haven’t seen and are interested in reading I can copy the link to you.

The book covers Vikings in Lancashire and Yorkshire and the perspective is from over a hundred years ago.

My plan is to go for a look around the area there are roman roads on the 1909 map that aren’t on any recent maps of suspected roman roads and any army from York would come through the valleys either side of the penines rather than travel further south closer to enemy territory.

A long winded way of asking advice on research but when you have been researching the fact behind your stories have you found any sources better than others ?

Regards

Glenn P Gavan   Haslingden Lancashire