The Battle of Merton (Meretun) in March 871 was one of the worst West Saxon defeats of the terrible year of battles. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records two phases — initially the West Saxons had the better of it, then the Danes held the field. King Aethelred was mortally wounded and died shortly after, leading Alfred to succeed as king at the worst possible moment. The location Meretun is debated — Merton in Surrey is one identification. Alfred inherited a war-battered kingdom and a Danish army that was undefeated in the field.
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.
Research a location near Berkshire