In the footsteps of King Harold
Stamford Bridge
East Riding of Yorkshire
Stamford Bridge is 8 miles east of York on the A166. The original site of the bridge over the river Derwent is 365 metres (1,200 feet) upstream of the modern one, on private land belonging to Battle Flats Farm.
On 25 September 1066, the Viking army was caught completely off-guard. It was a warm, sunny autumn day, and the troops were relaxing by the banks of the river Derwent. Harald Hardraada, the king of Norway, and Tostig Godwinsson, Harold's brother, only became aware of the approach of the English army when a column of dust rose from the marching soldiers, picked out with the glint of weapons in the sunlight. According to a Norse saga: 'And the closer the army came, the greater it [the column of dust] grew, and their glittering weapons sparkled like a field of broken ice.'
Harald left a small force to hold the bridge over the river Derwent and hastily organised a shield wall in the area to the south-east, between the road to Winchmore – Minster Way – and Burtonfield Hall. This tract, now called Battle Flats, can be viewed only from Minster Way or from public footpaths and lanes around the edges. The bridge was then much closer to the direct line of the A166, the old Roman road. In 1066, it was held until an English warrior, in a boat below, speared the Viking above through the slats of the bridge.
The account in the Norse saga gives a fairly detailed description of the battle. The English attacked the Vikings by a 'hot assault'. The Norse resisted bravely, keeping their own battle order, and the English forces could make little headway. Suddenly the Vikings attacked, breaking out of their battle order and seeking to drive the English from the battlefield. The latter responded by attacking the Vikings from all sides.
Harald was enraged and ran out in front of his men 'hewing with both hands. Neither helmet or armour could withstand him, and everyone in his path gave way before him.' It looked as if the English were on the point of being routed. 'But now King Harald was struck in the throat by an arrow, and that was his death wound.'
The Vikings retreated with their battle banner, 'Land Ravager', but Tostig, Harold's brother, took it up. As both armies re-organised themselves, there was a long pause. Harold offered his brother and the Vikings peace, but they refused, saying that they would 'rather fall, one across the other, than accept quarter from the Englishmen'.
The Vikings set up a war shout and the battle recommenced. Armour-clad Viking reinforcements then arrived from the ships at the Norwegian camp at Riccall, led by Eystein Orri, who took charge of the battle banner. The fierce fighting that followed became known as 'Orri's storm'. However, the Norse reinforcements were so exhausted by their journey from their ships that many fell from weariness. The English forces – who had done a far longer forced march from the south – easily defeated them.
When the slaughter was over, Harold gave quarter to the defeated, and the Viking survivors went home in 24 ships. They had arrived in 300.
Battle of Stamford Bridge
www.battlefieldstrust.com
Part of the UK Battlefields Resource Centre, this not only gives an account of the battle but also describes the modern-day battlefield in some detail.
