Monument record MDO29868 - Possible location of Egbert's Stone, Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury has been suggested as the site of Egbert’s Stone, a lost Saxon place, and an important place in Alfred the Great’s 878 campaign against the Danes.

Shaftesbury has been suggested as the site of Egbert’s Stone, a lost Saxon place, and important in the understanding of Alfred the Great’s 878 campaign against the Danes. The correct reconstruction of this campaign is hampered by the difficulties in identifying some of the place-names quoted in the sources. Ecgbryhtsstan (Egbert’s Stone) is one of these.

After Alfred had found refuge at Athelney, he continued to fight against the enemy with a small force from Somerset. In the seventh week after Easter 878 he rode to Ecgbryhtsstan east of Selwood, where he was met by the people of Somerset, Wiltshire and part of Hampshire. After one night of encampment they went to Iley.

The argument for Shaftesbury as Egbert’s Stone is based on its location east of Selwood Forest, its location at the centre of a number of roads leading to Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire and its excellent defensive position in which to camp. Also, it is argued that before departing from Athelney and Egbert’s Stone Alfred may well have offered prayers and vowed he would build a monastery on the spot for success in his hazardous counter-attack. He subsequently built monasteries at Athelney and Shaftesbury. There is no direct historical evidence for this, but Alfred acted in a similar manner at other critical times during his reign. (1)

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1988, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1987, 141-2 (Serial). SDO87.

Record last edited

Jan 4 2021 9:37AM