Local Historian Ray Fellows is holding a history talk about Wednesfield and the Battle Of Wodensfield at The Vine Inn on Lichfield Rd this Friday.

Ray’s talk marks the 1,100th anniversary of the battle which was reported to have taken place on the 4th and 5th of August in the year 910. The Battle took place where Wednesfield (or Wodensfield as it was then called) now stands and was crucial in helping to forge the unification of England as one Kingdom.

Wednesfield born former Mayor of Wolverhampton, Phil Bateman recently said:

“The first written references to Wednesfield come in the Anglo Saxon chronicles where there is reference to a great battle at Wednesfield in which the Mercians and their allies inflicted a defeat on the Danes which lead to effective end of their power. It has always been an important part of Wednesfield’s traditional history that this great battle was fought here and a reference to it appeared on the Wednesfield Urban District Council’s coat of arms.” (as seen above).

Ray’s talk begins at 7:30pm on Friday 6th August at The Vine Inn on Lichfield Rd and all are welcome.

Here are the events coming up this week…

Monday 7th – Friday 11th June

Venue: New Wednesfield Community Library

• Artifacts loaned by the Wolverhampton Art Gallery will be on display throughout the week.
• History time lines created by local schools will be displayed
• A free drinks Sainsbury’s voucher will be given to all users who borrow a book from the new Community Library for use in the café area of the Wednesfield store.

Monday 7th June

• The Mayor of Wolverhampton will officially open Trap Makers Bridge at 11 am, including a short walk and refreshments at the new Wednesfield Community Centre.
• The meeting point for the event/walk will be at the Trap Makers Bridge. Enter Wednesfield Park via the side of the Snooker Hall by St Patrick’s School on Graisley Lane. Click here for a map showing the route of the walk.

Tuesday & Wednesday 8th & 9th June

• Short history talks will take place at Wodensfield & St Patrick’s Primary Schools for pupils by Mr. Rhodes (Grandson of the Founder of Sidebothams Trap Makers Company) and Ray Fellows (Local Historian/Author)

Thursday 10th June

Venue: New Wednesfield Community Library / New Wednesfield Community Centre Hall
Time: 11 am – 12:15 pm

• Wodensfield, St Patrick’s & Edward the Elder Primary School choirs will be performing in the new Wednesfield Community Centre.
• Emma Purhouse (Poet) will be performing a collection of poems.
• A dance of the Battle of Wodensfield will be performed by Wodensfield Primary School.

Friday 11th June

Venue: Wednesfield Library
Time: 1:30pm – 5pm

• Local historian Ray Fellows will be signing copies of his new book ‘Wednesfield Our Village’

Former Mayor of Wolverhampton Phil Bateman is leading calls for Wolverhampton City Council to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Wodensfield (Wednesfield) which took place between the Anglo Saxons and the Danes on the 4th & 5th of August 1100 years ago.

Phil said: “There is a strong local opinion that the City Council should be celebrating this most important of battles. This battle which was reported to have taken place in Wednesfield (or Wodensfield as it was called then) in the year 910 was crucial in helping to forge the unification of England as one kingdom. Indeed if the Danes had won, we all would have been likely to have been speaking Danish now!”

“Since the finding of the Staffordshire Hoard there has been huge interest in the local history of the area. The City are missing a trick if it allows another year to slip by without recognising the importance of this battle that is unique to Wednesfield and Wolverhampton.”

“The first written references to Wednesfield come in the Anglo Saxon chronicles where there is reference to a great battle at Wednesfield in which the Mercians and their allies inflicted a defeat on the Danes which lead to effective end of their power. It has always been an important part of Wednesfield’s traditional history that this great battle was fought here and a reference to it appeared on the Wednesfield Urban District Council’s coat of arms.”

Do you think we should mark the anniversary of the battle of Wodensfield/Wednesfield? Let us know in the comments!

There will be a Bouncy Castle, Punch & Judy Show, Brass Band, an appearance by the local Fire service and many, many other fun activities; so please come along and join in the fun!

For more information, contact Chris on 01902 551750 or click here.