Wessex

Wessex is central to the study of early medieval English history; it was the dynasty which created the kingdom of England. This volume uses archaeological and place-name evidence to present an authoritative account of the most significant of the English Kingdoms.

There have been many studies of the Scandinavians in Britain, but this is the first collection of essays to be devoted solely to their engagement with Wessex. New work on the early Middle Ages, not least the excavations of mass graves associated with the Viking Age in Dorset and Oxford, drew attention to the gaps in our understanding of the wider impact of Scandinavians in areas of Britain not traditionally associated with them. Here, a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to the problems of their study is presented. While there may not have been the same degree of impact, discernible particularly in place-names and archaeology, as in those areas of Britain which had substantial influxes of Scandinavian settlers, Wessex was a major theater of the Viking wars in the reigns of Alfred and Æthelred Unræd. Two major topics, the Viking wars and the Danish landowning elite, figure strongly in this collection but are shown not to be the sole reasons for the presence of Danes, or items associated with them, in Wessex. Multidisciplinary approaches evoke Vikings and Danes not just through the written record, but through their impact on real and imaginary landscapes and via the objects they owned or produced. The papers raise wider questions too, such as when did aggressive Vikings morph into more acceptable Danes, and what issues of identity were there for natives and incomers in a province whose founders were believed to have also come from North Sea areas, if not from parts of Denmark itself? Readers can continue for themselves aspects of these broader debates that will be stimulated by this fascinating and significant series of studies by both established scholars and new researchers.

Wessex -- the ancient counties of Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Berkshire -- is remarkable for its economic and social cohesion as a region, and for the extraordinary wealth of its ancient remains. In this authoritative survey, Barry Cunliffe sets the great monuments and famous sites in their full cultural context. His chief concern, however, is to interpret the landscape of the region, and the people who over so many centuries created it. In his hands it becomes an archaeological artefact as eloquent as Avebury and Stonehenge themselves.

Stunning previously unpublished images of diesel locomotives on the railways of this picturesque area.

"Embark on a poetic and introspective journey through the landscapes of Wessex with Edric Holmes in 'Wanderings in Wessex.' Penned in the early 20th century, this travel narrative is a soulful exploration of the author's wanderings, capturing the essence of the English region known for its picturesque countryside and historic landmarks. As Holmes wanders through the charming villages and rolling hills, he unfolds tales of nature's beauty, architectural marvels, and the timeless spirit of Wessex. 'Wanderings in Wessex' is more than a travelogue; it's a literary reflection on the profound connection between the land and the human spirit. Join Holmes on this lyrical expedition where each page reveals a new facet of Wessex's allure, making 'Wanderings in Wessex' an essential read for those captivated by tales of introspective travel and the timeless landscapes of England."