Swein Forkbeard News Today

Why do the bones of luminaries such as King Cnut, Emma of Normandy and William II lie mixed up in six chests in Winchester Cathedral? And what do these remains tell us about the evolution of early England? Cat Jarman investigates

Part one in our 20-part series looking at decisive moments of the last 1,000 years in British history explores 1000–1049. Sarah Foot examines the most dramatic event of the early 11th century – one which threatened to change the course of English history

The shire was originally a West Saxon territorial unit used as basis for the assessment of taxation and the computation of military service that develop...