Town celebrates links with medieval English king
BBCA blue plaque celebrating one of England's most famous medieval kings has been unveiled in a Wiltshire town.
The plaque is dedicated to King Alfred the Great, known for defeating the Vikings at the Battle of Edington in 878, thereby ensuring the independence of the Kingdom of Wessex.
The roundel is located on the wall of Chippenham Museum, facing the town market place, a site that has a long association with the 9th Century ruler.
It was unveiled by town mayor Kathryn MacDermid in a public ceremony on Tuesday evening.
The town's market place is believed to have been the location of the king's hunting lodge.
Holding that status, the town was central to Alfred's power base, including a small palace where the court would meet, but he was forced from the area by a surprise Viking attack in early 878.
Several months later, he then led his forces into battle at Edington, about 15 miles (24km) south of Chippenham, against the Viking force led by Guthrum, King of the Danes.
Against the odds, Alfred came out victorious, forcing the Vikings to retreat from their base in Chippenham and ensuring the survival of Wessex as an independent kingdom.
Mike Stone, chairman of the Chippenham Civic Society, said that it was about time the town marked its association with the famous monarch.
"Apart from a road called Alfred Street, we don't make enough of him.
"He's so important, and these events took place in Chippenham.
"He did so many things apart from fighting. He founded our first navy. He had a school. He was very good at art. He was very good at translating Latin books into English. In a way, he was almost a polymath king."
"So we're unveiling this plaque to commemorate these amazing events."
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