Easter Walk '11: The Battle of Benfleet

  

(Click on the photos for more pictures at the flickr site)

In 893 England was largely split in two. Alfred and his men had emerged from their hideaway in Athelney and occupied the west of the country, whilst the eastern half was Danelaw, ruled by Vikings. A large force of Vikings, under Haesten had made their base at Benfleet, where the creek would have made a natural harbour for them to land their boats. Haesten and his men used Benfleet as a launch point for raiding parties, and it was whilst the bulk of the force were out on one such excursion that Aethelred and a force of local militia (mostly from London) and other fighting men attacked.

With the bulk of the Viking army seemingly away, they won a comfortable victory, sacking the Viking base, burning their ships and carrying off hostages. The Anglo-Saxon chronicle, which is the best source for the battle tells that amongst the captives were Haesten's family, including his sons, one of whom was King Alfred's godson (one of the conditions of a previous truce had been that Haesten and his family had been baptised with Alfred and Aethelred amongst the godparents).

Following the battle, and the destruction of his ships, Haesten and his party retreated to Shoebury to lick their wounds, before venturing northwest into the kingdom of Mercia.

When the navvies were building the railway line (just visible to the right of the above photo), they uncovered burnt timbers which are believed to be the remains of some of Haesten's boats. Following the battle, Alfred gave orders for a church to be built in thanks for the victory. St Mary The Virgin, Benfleet (top left) stands on the site of that original church, and Alfred is commemorated in its stained glass window. The site of the battle has never been formally identified, although it seems likely that it is near where the station is today. A statue, representing a dragon boat, stands near the believed site.