Anglo-Saxons Experience Day Workshop

Eala, wesaþ þu hal.
Welcome.

Today, you're travelling back to the very beginnings of England - to the world of the Anglo-Saxons.

This period is often called the "Dark Ages", but as you'll soon discover, that name doesn't really fit. There is mystery, yes - but also stories, skills, trade, belief, and change. Through the day, you'll explore what we do know, how we know it, and why historians sometimes disagree.

You'll discover that the arrival of the Angles and Saxons wasn't necessarily one single invasion. Writers like Bede and Gildas describe conflict, while archaeological evidence suggests that in some places change may have been gradual and peaceful. You'll explore these different viewpoints and consider how evidence shapes our understanding of the past.

Life in early medieval Britain isn't easy. Land is valuable, and if you want to keep it, you must be ready to defend it - or know when to flee. Villages must stay alert, watching the horizon for danger.

Not every stranger, however, is an enemy.

You'll meet Ottar of Helgeland, a well-travelled fur trader who has journeyed from Norway to visit Ælfred of Wessex, one of the last surviving Saxon kings. Though Ottar follows the old pagan gods and is in Christian lands, his travels have made him knowledgeable about many cultures, beliefs, and customs.

Ottar is someone worth knowing in uncertain times. He can tell you stories of distant places and peoples - and he understands weapons, armour, and the realities of conflict. But Saxon life isn't only about fighting. Strategy and thinking matter too, and you'll explore board games such as Hnefatafl, used to sharpen the mind as well as pass the time.

The question is simple: when the alarm is raised, will you be ready?