Walking to Waltham Abbey
A bit of practical historic research. To see how ancient clothing worked and how long it would take to get the news of the defeat at Fulford to Harold at Waltham Abbey. Hear a bit about it on the BBC Making History programme.
Sad news about planning decision
The Minister has determined that the battlefield will provide the access road to this housing development. There is a news release. Efforts must now be devoted to ensuring that the rest of the site as well as the exciting finds we have made are properly investigated before the site is destroyed.
If you want to understand a bit about the insane rules under which
planning operates then read my recent letter
published in the press. It describes two incidents when the inspector
ignored reality because it was contrary to the official view.
In parallel with this, the complaints that were made to the minister about the bias and intrinsic unfairness of the inquiry process immediately after the public inquiry closed, will now be pursued. Letters to the Secretary of State after the Inquiry
A great activity day took place on Sunday & Monday 18/19 February to help resort the collection.
 | We believe we have doubled the number of billets from the original hoard. There are several more metal working tools and possible some broken fragments of weapons from around the hearth. It is more important than ever that some systematic research is conducted to test if this evidence of battle debris. Interpretation, New finds, Arrowhead |
| Analysis of the finds will continue. We have now sorted through 2/3 of the finds. |
| Metal working tools. There are some similar items to those we have found in the city museum in Northampton. See what you think. Museum, Finds, X-ray |
| Recent floods tested the evidence to the old course of Germany Beck that was revealed during soil survey work. The results are encouraging. |
| The existing methodology and a revised plan to confirm the work so far can be inspected. |
| The experts believe that the Norse patter arrowhead was in the process of manufacture. So is there another metal working site near the river awaiting discovery? |
 |
If you would like to be kept updated then register you interest. We will be publishing our report, selling prints of the tapestry and other products to help with the fund-raising to keep the projects going. More |
Dramatised version of the battle
 |
 Just released. |
The public inquiry into the fate of Germany Beck opened on 13 June 2006 and continued until late July. The inspector will be reporting to the Secretary of State in the Autumn. The minister has decided to approve the development and has not even required that relevant archaeological investigation is undertaken.
The Yorkshire 'Bayeux' Design A full sized, coloured print of our tapestry is due to be displayed for the first time at the battle of Hastings commemoration 13/15 October 2006.
 Hardback
|
Chas Jones has written a
book which explains the events of 1066 leading to the battle of Fulford. The book challenges much of the received wisdom about the
events of 1066.
On 20 September 1066 a battle of the size and duration of the clash a few weeks later at Hastings led to the defeat of the Northumbrian army. Click on the cover to go to Amazon to purchase the book. Published by Tempus, Hardback, June 2006 - 0752438107 Paperback edition has now been published. About the bookContact me and I will sell you a signed copy. Very special price of £12.85 including postage in Europe (Please add an extra $ for overseas delivery) |
| Using the landscape analysis it has been possible to reconstruct the landscape on which the battle was fought. A
table-top model has been built. Understanding the way the land looked in 1066 makes military sense and fits the literature very well. More |
 |
The Yorkshire 'Bayeux' Design A full sized, coloured print of our tapestry is due to be displayed for the first time at the battle of Hastings commemoration 13/15 October 2006
You can look at a black & white image of the 5 metre tapestry split into sections.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Work in progress
Press news PR briefing Photos
At the planning meeting on 26 May 2005 the city council agreed to the outline planning application for 750 houses on the site. If it goes ahead as planned, it will bury the site beneath the access road.
There is a mass of evidence pointing to this as the site of the battlefield. Sadly, the planning officers chose not to present this to the elected officials who made the decision.
Evidence Assessed Some articles Battle sequence Soil survey Landscape archaeology Literature Finds Maps
Can you help? One author has donated copies of their books for us to sell.
The Tapestry is unveiled on Radio!
Hunter Davies, Georgy Evans, Brenda Bleythyn, Chas Jones and the presenter, Libby Purves after the BBC Midweek broadcast 11 October 2006.
Battle of Fulford - A Parliamentary Question
Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they will take to prevent the destruction, through inappropriate commercial development, of the site of the Battle of Fulford, held on 20 September 1066. [HL1877]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: English Heritage, our statutory adviser, is closely monitoring the situation. It will continue to keep the Department for Culture, Media and Sport informed of any developments regarding this site.
Comment
English Heritage are in the process of developing a strategy to investigate, define and preserve the sites of important battle in England. Is it appropriate that the Fulford site that is accepted by all parties, including the developers, should have 700+ houses and a network of roads constructed before the English Heritage work is complete? Why have the developers not undertaken any appropriate investigation? Why will the developers not allow others to carry out some work?
Views from battle of Hastings re-enactment 14 October 2006
|
Work is under way on the Yorkshire Preface to the Bayeux Tapestry, telling the story of the battle at Fulford that took place a few weeks before the clash at Hastings. Coloured-in design: Panel 1 panel 2 panel 3 panel 4 panel 5 panel 6
|
In their initial study, the developer said: " The geographical details that the River was to the right (west) and the Ditch was on the left (east) suggests that the Ditch mentioned may refer to Germany Beck. This theory was adhered to by K Penn who wrote the report on the A64 Outer Ring Road evaluation in 1973. "Without further field evaluation this issue seems likely to remain unresolved." BUT......they still want to bury the site without investigating it. Is this sad or is it dishonest? |
The developers have prevented relevant work!It is untrue to claim that relevant work has been undertaken. Two thirds of what we now recognise as the main battle has not been investigated. It is a scandal that this piece of heritage can be threatened without a full investigation of the battlefield being undertaken and that they can block our attempts to undertake the work. |
Background to the Battle of FulfordThe Battle of Fulford, on the outskirts of York, has been overshadowed by the other great battles of 1066 at Stamford Bridge and Hastings.
The sequence of events that flowed from the defeat of the Northern Earls at Fulford led, a few weeks later, to the Norman Conquest of Britain. Study the six map sequence that speculates on the fateful course of the battle. To convey an impression of the importance of this battle, the size of the Hastings battle site has been imposed on the Fulford map for comparison. Fulford looks bigger!
Walking to Waltham Abbey |
THE BATTLE OF FULFORD DESTINED TO BECOME AN ACCESS ROAD FOR A NEW ESTATEEvidence sectionA study of the landscape helps reveal the setting for the battle. A paper on the methodology adopted has been added. The pattern of finds is analysed and a new chart is added most months Maps index - Including 3D, geological and ancient maps. |
The site has been created to gather, assemble and then disseminate information about this neglected battle at Fulford in 1066. If you have any information or alternative views please contribute to the discussion. Three year's work has produced over five thousand finds, and covered nearly 150,000 sq metres. The haul has included 41% ferrous material. A proper appraisal of the material will start in 2005 but it will take several years to complete.
"The site of the battle that followed is still miraculously clear of urban development which has halted a few hundred yards north of the battlefield. The area is a challenge to the civil conscience as a site for permanent presentation - An eternal reminder of an interesting fragment of Yorkshire history." Edwin Tetlow 'The Enigma of Hastings' pp 103 (Peter Owen 1974)
|
||||||||||||||
|
The underlying geology is key to placing the battlefield. There have been 2 pieces of work to confirm the assumptions: Could Fulford have been a bigger battle than Hastings? No prizes for guessing the right answer. Look at the evidence Other theories
|
History Today.comHistory Today has kindly given permission for the article about the Battle of Fulford to be reproduced on the site. Published in October 1966, its title is "The Third Battle of 1066". It makes very interesting reading... |
|||||||||||||||
| We have received enormous help and sponsorship. Some of these are recorded on our Sponsors page. |
Battlefield Trust site This is a wonderful, new resource for those who want to know about the battlefields of England and Wales. |
|||||||||||||||
