BBC Radio Surrey – Battle of Aclea

The Lost Battle of Aclea

On 6th October 2026, I joined James Cannon on BBC Radio Surrey to talk about the mystery of the Battle of Aclea, a major battle fought between the Saxons and Vikings in 851 AD. We discussed the search for this lost Surrey battlefield and the fascinating possibility that the fighting may have taken place around Leith Hill and Ockley.

On 6th October 2026, I had the pleasure of joining James Cannon on BBC Radio Surrey to talk about one of Surrey’s most intriguing historical mysteries – the lost Battle of Aclea.

The Battle of Aclea was fought in AD 851 between the West Saxons, led by King Æthelwulf, and a large Viking army during a period of intense Viking activity across southern England. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a major West Saxon victory at Aclea, but more than 1,170 years later, the exact location of the battlefield remains unknown.

One of the fascinating theories is that Aclea may have been located here in Surrey, possibly around Ockley and the slopes of Leith Hill. The area lies close to Stane Street, the old Roman road running through this part of Surrey, which would have provided an important route through the landscape during the Saxon period.

During my conversation, we discussed the story of the battle, why this part of Surrey has been suggested as its possible location, and what evidence might eventually help us identify where the Saxons and Vikings actually fought. I was also able to bring a metal detectorist’s perspective to the discussion and talk about the role that responsible detecting could potentially play in uncovering further clues.

It was fantastic to have the opportunity to talk about Aclea on BBC Radio Surrey. It’s a piece of local history that deserves far more attention, particularly when you consider the possibility that such an important Saxon victory over the Vikings could have taken place around Leith Hill and Ockley.

Listen to My Interview on BBC Radio Surrey

My appearance on the James Cannon Show was broadcast on BBC Radio Surrey on 6th October 2026.

If you missed the programme live, you can catch up with the James Cannon Show on BBC Sounds and hear our discussion about the Lost Battle of Aclea.

What makes the story particularly exciting is that the battlefield has never been conclusively identified. Somewhere in the Surrey landscape there could still be archaeological evidence capable of helping to solve a mystery that has lasted for more than a thousand years.

It’s incredible to think that Saxon warriors and Vikings may once have fought a major battle across the countryside we know today. Perhaps continued historical research, archaeology and responsible metal detecting will one day provide the evidence needed to finally put Aclea on the map.