The Mammoth Book of King Arthur (96 page)

Gloucester.
Vortigern’s family came from Gloucester. His
grandfather Vitalinus is specially referred to as “of Gloucester” whilst
his father was a high official in the town. Ambrosius the Elder may also have been an official. It remained inhabited throughout the fifth century and presumably into the sixth, as Conmail is
referred to as a king of Gloucester when he was defeated at Dyrham in 577. Gloucester was where Mabon the Hunter was imprisoned and had to be rescued by Arthur in the story of
Culhwch and
Olwen.

Lydney.
Between Chepstow and Gloucester, this was the site of a major healing sanctuary dedicated to the Romano-British god Nodens. It was built around the middle of the
third century and remained in use into the early fourth century. Although of pagan origin, it may have continued to provide healing facilities to Christians. Although it no longer appears to be a
physical island, as the name shows (Lydney,
Lida’s Island
) it was once isolated by two streams, and would have been seen as an island haven in the woods tucked away from the real world
(Nodens was also a god of the woods). Lydney could be the original Avalon. The Lydney complex was originally surrounded by lakes, and would be the obvious sanctuary for the Lady of the Lake. At
Lydney hundreds of copper bracelets were found, which have long been associated with healing, and this may have been the basis of the ring that the Lady of the Lake gave to Lancelot.

Hampshire

Basing.
Old Basing, south of Basingstoke, has been suggested as a possible site for Bassas, Arthur’s sixth battle.

Charford.
The favoured site for where Cerdic settled and fought his first battles, probably in the 530s and therefore after the Arthurian period.

Portchester.
One of the suggested sites for Llongborth. However,
see
Llamporth in Dyfed.

Silchester.
Between Reading and Basingstoke, this was the Roman town of
Calleva Atrebatum.
Although any Roman influence had ceased by the early fifth century, a
Romano-British occupation seems to have continued right through the fifth and sixth centuries until a simple transition to Anglo-British occupation by the early seventh century. Somehow, perhaps
because of a series of defensive ditches such as Grim’s Dyke, Silchester
managed to remain independent. The Saxon infiltration was minor and the town was eventually
abandoned. It remains today the best preserved shell of all Roman towns. Intriguingly, Geoffrey of Monmouth has Arthur crowned here. This may be because there was some vague tradition of its
British independence in the sixth century but I suspect it’s more a case of language confusion. The old Welsh tales give Arthur’s capital at Celliwig and
Celli
means a grove in a
wood. The original Roman name
Calleva
meant “town in the woods”, and it is believed that the prefix for Silchester came from the British adaptation to
Calle-cestre.
Curiously, although it is recorded as
Silcestre
in the
Domesday Book
(probably under Norman influence), by the next century it was back to
Cilcestre.
Geoffrey may have
genuinely believed that Silchester was the old Celliwig.

Winchester.
The Roman town of Venta Belgarum was the capital of the Belgae tribe and later became the capital of Wessex. Although there is evidence of continued
Romano-British occupation in the early fifth century, it did not really re-emerge until the West Saxon king Cynegils established a new diocese here in 634 under Bishop Birinus. If it was occupied
at all during the Arthurian period it was on a negligible scale. However, Malory chose to make Winchester the site for Camelot since it was here that Arthur’s Round Table was displayed in the
Great Hall. The Table is still on display.

Hereford & Worcester

Archenfield,
see
Ergyng.

Arthur’s Cave,
see
Ganarew.

Dorstone.
Between Dorstone and Bredwardine at the head of the Golden Valley is the impressive burial chamber called
Arthur’s Stone.
The name really applies
to the massive capstone. Although this area has many associations with Arthur the name is relatively recent; when it was first described in an antiquarian’s report in 1728 it was called
Artil’s Stone. It is another Neolithic site dating back to at least 3500
BC
. The site is so significant, though, as a local landmark that it is tempting to think that
in Arthur’s day it could have been known as Arthur’s stone to identify a meeting place.

Ergyng.
This was one of the minor Welsh kingdoms that adjoined Gwent, and at times formed part of that kingdom. It
was also in the front line of the
Saxon and Angle advance across Britain, and much of what was Ergyng now falls into England in Hereford & Worcester (as Archenfield). Ergyng may well have formed a sub-kingdom of Gwent ruled by
the heirs to Gwent and it has been suggested that Athrwys ap Meurig ruled as prince of Ergyng though he died too young to inherit Gwent. Caradog Vreichfras is also identified as a king or prince of
Ergyng. Arthur’s pursuit of the boar Twrch Trwyth took him through this part of Ergyng where the Dulas Brook, at Ewyas Harold, may be one of the sites for Arthur’s second-to-fifth
battles. 10km east of Ewyas Harold, at the delightfully named Wormelow Tump, is Gamber Head, which is the start of the River Gamber fed by the spring known once as Llygad Amr. This is where,
according to Nennius, Arthur killed and buried his son Amr. There’s no barrow visible today.

Ganarew.
On the bend in the river near Symonds Yat is the hill fort of Little Doward which is where, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Vortigern was besieged and his
fort burned down by Ambrosius. Below the hill near the river is
King Arthur’s Cave,
though no one knows what the connection is.

Leintwardine.
The Roman town here was
Bravonium
or
Branogenium,
and this might have corrupted into Breguein or Breguoin, the name of Arthur’s eleventh
battle. It probably also corrupted into Brandigan, the castle of King Evrian in
Erec et Enide,
a name that survives in Brandon Camp, a hill-fort to the south.
See also
Knucklas
(Powys). The
Clun Forest,
north-west of the town, is a suggested site for the battle of Coed Celidon.

Hertfordshire

St. Albans.
The Roman town of Verulamium was one of the first Christian towns in Britain. It remained occupied and functional as a British town throughout the fifth
century and probably into the sixth. Germanus visited it in 429 and perhaps 436, and it must at some stage have been visited by Vortigern and Ambrosius. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, the
Saxons besieged it during Uther’s reign. There are no direct Arthurian connections but as one of the major frontier towns during the Saxon settlement there may have been a confrontation here
at some time.

Kent

Barham Down,
south of Canterbury. According to Malory this was the site of a battle between Mordred and Arthur following Arthur’s advance from Dover. There may have
been a battle here between the British and the Saxons/Jutes in the early days of their settlement but that would be pre-Arthur, possibly part of Ambrosius’s campaign. Malory may have tapped
into a local tradition recalling that Barham was the site of the first battle between the Britons and the Romans under Julius Caesar in 54
BC
. The connection with Arthur may
be because the name Barham derives from the Saxon
Bioraham
and Beora is the Saxon for “bear”.

Dover.
In Malory’s
Morte Darthur
, Arthur fights Mordred here upon his return to Britain. Gawain, already wounded from an earlier battle with Lancelot, dies
in the fighting and is buried in the Chapel of Dover Castle. Caxton refers to Gawain’s skull being visible at Dover. This is all legend and has no basis in history. For another burial site
for Gawain,
see
Bosherston in Dyfed.

Lancashire

Lancaster.
Here, the estuary of the River Lune has been suggested as a possible site for Arthur’s first battle.

Preston.
The River Douglas joins the Ribble here and may be the site of Arthur’s battles on the Dubglas. It is also a suggested site for the battle of Tribruit.
East of Preston at
Ribchester
is the Roman fort of Bremetennacum, which was the main command of Lucius Artorius Castus. The name might also corrupt into Breguoin, the site of Arthur’s
eleventh battle.

Lincolnshire

Lindsey.
This area, once known as Linnuis, is usually cited as the most likely for Arthur’s four battles at the River Dubglas, even though there is no local river
by that name. It was a locale settled early by the Angles and is referred to by Geoffrey of Monmouth in relation to Hengist. As discussed in Chapter 6, this area is more likely as the site of the
earlier battles in Vortimer’s or Ambrosius’s campaign.
See also
Brigg.

Spalding.
Near here the River Glen joins the River Welland and it is a suggested site for Arthur’s first battle.

London

Although Malory places the episode of Arthur withdrawing the sword from the stone in London (probably at St. Paul’s), and also has Guenevere seek refuge in the Tower of
London (five hundred years before it was built), there are no historical sites in London with direct Arthurian connections.

Northumberland

Alnwick.
Suggested by Malory as a possible site for Lancelot’s castle Joyous Garde.
See also
Bamburgh.

Bamburgh.
An impressive castle dominates the skyline here now and even without that it must have been an impressive site in Arthur’s day. It was then known as
Din Guayrdi
and was probably the capital of the Southern Votadini. Malory suggested it as a possible site for Lancelot’s Castle Joyous Garde. It was here that Ida established his
capital in 547 or so. The area is associated with many battles between the British and Angles, some of which may have later become associated with Arthur’s campaign. It was here that Urien
was murdered during the siege of Lindisfarne in
c
590. Its present name is supposed to be derived from Bebba, the Pictish wife of Athelfrith, adopted soon after the defeat of the British at
Catraeth.

Corbridge.
At Dilston the Devil’s Water may be one of the sites of Arthur’s battles along the Dubglas.

Doddington.
Near here the River Glen meets the River Till near Yeavering Bell. It has been suggested as a site for Arthur’s first battle.

High Rochester.
The old Roman fort of Bremenium, in British
Berwyn
, is one of the suggested sites for Arthur’s eleventh battle at Bregouin. The seventh
battle in the Forest of Celidon might also have been within this vicinity.

Oxfordshire

Dorchester.
A possible site for the Golden Isle in Renaud’s story
Le Bel Inconnu
and a possible site for Arthur’s Round Table as described by
Bèroul in his story of Tristan, which sets Arthur’s court at Sinadon. The Sinodun Hills, also known as Wittenham Clumps, are to the south of Dorchester.

Faringdon.
Badbury Hill is a suggested site for Arthur’s battle of Badon Hill.

Wootton.
Near here the River Glyme joins the Dorn, a suggested site for Arthur’s first battle.

Shropshire

Baschurch.
Suggested as a possible site for Bassas, Arthur’s sixth battle.

Clun.
The Clun Forest is a suggested location for Arthur’s seventh battle at the Forest of Celidon. It may also be related to his first battle on the River
Glein.

Wroxeter.
The site of the Roman fort at Viriconium, within site of the massive hill-fort of the Wrekin. Viriconium remained occupied well into the fifth century and even
had improvements made and encouraged visitors. It may well have been the capital of Vortigern and Ambrosius, and even of Arthur, making it a possible site for Camelot. It has been suggested that
Badon may have been fought here, at the Wrekin.

Somerset

Arthur’s Bridge.
Bridge over the river Alham near Ditcheat. It may be associated with Arthur’s Lane,
see
Cadbury Castle.

Bath.
One of the major towns of Roman Britain,
Aquae Sulis
, and the site suggested by Geoffrey of Monmouth (and perhaps Nennius) as the location for the siege of
Mons Badonicus
, which might have taken place on the surrounding hills at Bathampton Down or Solsbury Hill (
see
Chapter 7). Chrétien de Troyes, who had probably never been to
Britain, refers to Bath/Bade as one of the cities of King Bagdemagus,
see
Gorre.

Brent Knoll,
near Burnham-on-Sea. An imposing Iron Age hill-fort where the Romans also built a temple. William of Malmesbury tells a legend that the hill, then called the
Mount of Frogs, was the home of three giants. Arthur set out to fight them but Yder went on ahead. By the time Arthur arrived Yder had killed the giants but had himself collapsed. The locality is
also known as Battleborough, apparently after a battle between Alfred the Great and the Danes in 875, but it has been suggested that this could have been the site of one of Arthur’s twelve
battles, possibly Bregwyn.

Bristol.
The suburb of Catbrain near Filton Airport has been suggested as being originally Cat-bregyon, which might be the same as Arthur’s
eleventh battle at Breguoin.

Cadbury Castle,
a massive Iron Age hill fort at South Cadbury, which has been linked with Camelot ever since John Leland identified it in 1542, when he referred to it as
“Camallate”. The connection may have been derived from the nearby villages of
Queen Camel
and West Camel, which were known simply as
Camelle
in the Domesday Book and a
century earlier as
Cantmael.
It is uncertain how long the locals had associated it with Arthur and Camelot but within the vicinity as you climb the hill are
Arthur’s Well
and
the crest is called
Arthur’s Palace.
There are traces of an old track running from the hill towards Glastonbury, called
Arthur’s Lane.