Guthrum the Dane ambushes Alfred of Wessex, who flees for his life into the Somerset Levels …
“In this year (878) in midwinter after twelfth night the enemy army came stealthily to Chippenham,and occupied the land of the West Saxons and settled there, and drove a great part of the people across the sea, and conquered most of the others ; and the people submitted to them, except King Alfred. He journeyed in difficulties through the woods and fen-fastnesses with a small force …” (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle).
The photo shows Alfred in his darkest hour … it’s the original 1950s artwork by John Kenney for the Ladybird book, with another book next to it for scale.
The artwork is kept in the University of Reading Art Collections.
Fantastic Fact 