Byrhtnoth's Last Visit

Essex

Ealdorman Byrhtnoth was a veteran East Saxon hero who lost his life leading his countrymen against Viking raiders at the battle of Maldon on 11 August 991, that is remembered in Anglo-Saxon poetry and in Maldon's 1991 Battle Millenium Tapestry. Byrhtnoth was summoned from distant Ely by Maldonians concerned that their new burh (fortified settlement) might not be enough to defend them against a splinter group of Viking raiders camped nearby on Northey Island in the estuary, after the main group had sacked Gippeswyck (Ipswich) and sailed home. Recruiting as he marched from Ely at harvest time, the six-foot warrior may have used valley routes close to the Great Ouse to Cambridge and the Cam to reach Great Chesterford where the current route starts at the entry to the then East Saxon Kingdom, now Essex.

It follows the Cam valley to Saffron Walden, crossing into the Pant river valley and then near Wimbish to the river Chelmer valley that it follows south via Thaxted and Great Dunmow to Chelmsford. Here the Chelmer turns east, joining the Blackwater (Panta in Roman times) to reach the head of the Blackwater estuary at Maldon. The walk ends at the causeway to Northey Island, close to the site of the battle.

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Details:

Path Type:	Other Paths
Attributes:	Heritage
Start:	TL504426 - Great Chesterford, Essex
Finish:	TL869056 - Maldon, Essex
Open Date:	2005

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Route Description - PDF	Byrhtnoth's Last Visit  (Derek Keeble  - 2020 )
Route Description - PDF	Corduroy Country Strides  (Derek Keeble  - 2020 )

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