(ANOTHER) KING IN A CAR PARK

In the spring of 878AD Alfred, king of the West Saxons, led a little band of men to one of the most magnificent victories of his age.

For many years, Danish Vikings had been raiding deep into the kingdoms of England, terrorising the people on land and at sea.

In 878, however, Alfred made a stand, and at the battle of Edington (today in Wiltshire), he stopped a band of Viking leaders under a warlord named Guthrum in their tracks.

He defeated them on the battlefield, chased them to their fortress and besieged them until they gave up resistance, promised to leave the kingdom and assured Alfred that the pagan Guthrum would receive Christian baptism.

Edington is not usually mentioned in the first rank of famous battles on English soil. But Alfred is today remembered - albeit vaguely - as the king who saved his people from total subjugation to the Danes. From 886 he was king of all the Anglo-Saxons. For this and his reputed piety, he is best known as Alfred the Great.

But here’s the embarrassing thing. We don’t know what we’ve done with him.

Alfred died in October 899, and in the centuries since his bones have been moved many times, scattered and mislaid. Anyone wishing to find a grave at which to salute this venerable Viking-slayer will be a long time looking in vain.

Until - maybe - now.