Early Anglo-Saxon History. Swindon & Wiltshire
During the Anglo-Saxon period, Swindon was a West Saxon farming community that was founded after the conquest of the area in the mid-6th century. The settlement, which provided the basis for modern-day Old Town, was established on top of Swindon Hill.
The West Saxon settlement
Conquest: The area around Swindon came under the control of the West Saxons after their victory at the Battle of Beranburgh, reportedly at Barbury Castle, in 556 CE.
Establishment: The West Saxons built a farming community on Swindon Hill. Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of wood-framed and plastered huts near what is now
Market Square
Daily life: Finds of Anglo-Saxon pottery and cloth indicate the settlement was continuously occupied throughout the 6th and 7th centuries.
The name "Swindon": The name is thought to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon words "swine" (pig) and "dun" (hill or down), suggesting a connection to pig farming on the hill.
Domesday Book: By the time of the Norman Conquest, the Swindon estate was owned by an Anglo-Saxon thane named Leofgeat. The manor was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as having 27 households and a rental value of £10 14s.
Wider political context
Battle of Ellendun (825 CE): The pivotal Battle of Ellendun, considered one of the most decisive conflicts of the Anglo-Saxon era, occurred near what is now Swindon. King Egbert of Wessex defeated King Beornwulf of Mercia, establishing Wessex as the dominant kingdom in England.
Legacy: The victory at Ellendun solidified the power of the West Saxons, whose legacy led to the eventual unification of England. The precise battle site is a subject of historical debate, but evidence points to an area near Windmill Hill in Lydiard Tregoze, west of Swindon.
Archaeological evidence
Barbury Castle: The Iron Age hillfort of Barbury Castle, where the West Saxons may have fought a key battle, is one of several ancient sites in the area. Excavations have shown it was likely used as a place of safety or for ceremonial events.
Bronze Age mounds: Evidence of an unusual Anglo-Saxon bed burial was found in a Bronze Age barrow near Roundway. Such burials were rare and often reserved for high-status women, possibly indicating the arrival of Christianity in the 7th century. Other examples of this practice are known in the kingdom of Wessex.
Modern digs: Recent archaeological projects, such as those for the Southern Connector Road, have uncovered evidence of early medieval activity, along with artifacts from earlier periods.
The medieval period and beyond
Swindon remained a small, agricultural settlement throughout the medieval period, functioning as a local market town. Its significant growth and transformation into an industrial hub came much later with the construction of canals in the early 19th century and the arrival of the Great Western Railway in the 1840s.
The Battle of Ellendun
The Battle of Ellendun, fought in 825 CE, was a pivotal moment in Anglo-Saxon history that occurred near modern-day Swindon. Although Swindon was a small farming community at the time, its location provided a strategically crucial site that determined the course of the battle and, ultimately, the future of England.
Strategic importance of the location
Controlling the middle Thames valley: The battle took place in the fields south of Swindon, near Wroughton and Lydiard Park, a location that gave King Egbert of Wessex control of the strategically important middle Thames valley.
Mercian invasion route: The location was likely part of an old trackway that Mercian forces used to enter Wessex territory. Mercian King Beornwulf chose this route to engage Egbert's army, which was occupied with campaigns against the Britons in Cornwall.
Disputed territory: Historical and archaeological evidence suggests the area around Swindon was a long-disputed border territory between the powerful kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia. The Battle of Ellendun was part of this larger conflict for regional dominance.
Impact on Anglo-Saxon politics
The fall of Mercian supremacy: For nearly a century, Mercia was the dominant Anglo-Saxon kingdom, ruling over much of southern England. Egbert's decisive victory at Ellendun shattered this dominance and effectively ended Mercian influence in the region.
The rise of Wessex: The battle established Wessex as the new dominant power. Following the victory, Egbert's son Æthelwulf conquered the southern kingdoms of Kent, Sussex, and Essex, annexing them to Wessex and roughly doubling its territory.
Foundation for a unified kingdom: The victory laid the groundwork for the unification of England. A century later, under Wessex's rule, the kingdoms were consolidated into a single English kingdom.
Remembering the event near Swindon
While the precise battlefield location is debated, the battle is commemorated in the Swindon area today.
Local commemoration: In 2025, the 1,200th anniversary of the battle was marked with community events and an exhibition at
Lydiard Park, raising awareness of the historic Anglo-Saxon event.
Historical recognition: The victory is recognized as a decisive turning point in English history, one that shaped the cultural and political landscape of the nation.