Tettenhall District CiC Project Hub SHOWCASE

---

 Forgotten History - Lady Æthelflæd and the Battle of 910 AD

Project Lead - Rebecca Cresswell

Project Context 

A project is underway to create a lasting tribute to Æthelflæd, Lady of Mercia, and the dawn of Anglo-Saxon England through the battles of Tettenhall and Wodensfield in 910 AD, envisioned as a permanent Art/Educational trail this exciting project aims to ignite historical interest and educate.

Rebecca Cresswell, the appointed Project Lead, is aiding the District Trust in refining the project plan and securing funding to advance the proposed phases of the project.

The commendable community efforts of Rachel Arnold (local artist and creative director), in collaboration with Creative Blackcountry, have established a solid creative base for this project through ongoing free workshops, presentations, and exhibits at Cup Cake Lane Cafe in Tettenhall and The Heritage Weekend at Wightwick Manor in Wolverhampton.

The initiative seeks to create a lasting testament to Æthelflæd and Tettenhall's historical significance.

In consultation with the local communities of Tettenhall and Wednesfield, the project is gathering input on desired installations, tourist attractions, artworks, or commemorative records.

The goal is to reinsert Lady Æthelflæda into history as the female sovereign who defended the Tettenhall region and the Kingdom of West Mercia from Viking incursions, marking the inception of Anglo-Saxon England.

Notable battles that altered the course of English history include:

- The Battle of Hastings in 1066, initiating Norman rule

- The Battle of Market Bosworth in 1485, heralding the Tudor Dynasty

- The Battle of Naseby in 1645, starting the Interregnum under Cromwell

The Battle of Tettenhall & Wodensfield in 910 AD, along with Æthelflæda, remain largely unrecognized and uncommemorated, even locally. These confrontations and our regional history signify the beginning of Anglo-Saxon England and the end of the Danelaw.