Alfred the Great, King of the Saxons (849 - 26th October 899)

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Athelney, Somerset.
'Time Team' discovered the remains of iron smelting all over the hill. They believe it is evidence of the Saxon army forging weapons for the coming battle. King Alfred later founded a monastery on this spot to say thank-you to God for answering his prayers.

In March, King Alfred oversaw the remains of his broken army digging earthwork defences around the tiny inland islands of Athelney and nearby Lyng, areas of higher ground surrounded by the miles of flooded marshland that were the Somerset Levels.

The story of Alfred burning the cakes dates from this time. While he was sheltering in the home of a herdsman, the herdsman's wife asked him to watch some cakes that were being baked. Alfred was so distracted by his desperate worries that he forgot the cakes and they were badly burned. Not knowing who he was, the woman returned and angrily shouted at him. Alfred meekly accepted the telling off.
Somerset Levels
The flooded Somerset levels
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