Vikings

in Castle Bromwich?

Philip Martin Clip Art reusable under Creative Commons
Philip Martin Clip Art reusable under Creative Commons

 

 

 

 

 

Vikings 

 

in Castle Bromwich?

 

 

There weren't any!

 

- as far as we know.

The Vikings caused problems for the Anglo-Saxons for over 200 years.

From about 800 AD Vikings began to make raids on Britain, stealing treasure, capturing people to sell as slaves and burning villages. However, after the raids they usually sailed back to their homes in Denmark and Norway. 

 

As the years went by, some Vikings began to settle in England, especially in the North and East, to farm the land. There is no known evidence of Vikings settling down in the Birmingham area.

 

In 870 the Vikings brought a Great Army to England and began to conquer much of the country. Soon England was divided along the ancient Roman road, Watling Street: north and east of it was the Danelaw controlled by the Vikings; south and west of it was Anglo-Saxon Mercia and Wessex.

 

However, on two occasions the Viking Great Army passed nearby. In 893 and in 895 they travelled from Essex to Shropshire along Watling Street near Tamworth. They were only 10 miles away from Castle Bromwich.

 

The fight back began under the Saxon king, Alfred the Great, then under his son Edward and grandson Athelstan, who took back the Viking lands and called himself 'King of the English'. 

 

Weblink - Viking Placenames

 

 

 

 

 

Click on this map to take you to the British Museum website.

Here there is a map of Britain showing places with Viking names.

Enlarge the map to find Birmingham. 


Can you find any Viking placenames nearby?

 

 

 

So, no Vikings in Castle Bromwich!

Weblinks

 

Click on the picture to go to BBC Primary History.

There's lots of information here about the Vikings. The website will open a new page.

'A History of Castle Bromwich for Young People' written by William Dargue 2016 for the Castle Bromwich Bellringers.

We’ve been ringing here for 500 years and are keen to involve local people in our ancient art. Contact us via our church website, if you want learn to ring or visit the tower or have one of us talk to your group about the history of Castle Bromwich, our church or bellringing.  Material on this site may be reused only for non-commercial purposes providing appropriate attribution is given (Creative Commons Licence Attribution NonCommercial 4.0) - details on the Contact page.