Fulford Battlefield Research Website

 

Maps of battle of Fulford 1066
 Recording the events of September 1066
tanged arrow from Fulford
yorks releif map

The Fulford Tapestry Website

Home
Simply shocking
A19 in Flood
Questions for CYC
Finding Fulford report
WSI
Literature
Maps of battle of Fulford 1066
The evidence
Planning Inquiry
Designation appeal
Correspondence
Media releases

York City Planning documents online

Maps

YouTube videos

 

The Final Report

Finding Fulford cover

Kindle edition of Finding Fulford is now available

The Fulford Tapestry

 

Visiting Fulford

Map York

 

Some maps might take 10-20 seconds to download if you have a slow link, so please be patient. There are some very large images in the PR section for use in education or for the media.

Maps

  1. Modern map of Fulford with local footpaths

  2. Modern OS map of York

  3. The 1851 map of Fulford

  4. Discussion of old maps

  5. John Speeds map

  6. 3D map of the site

  7. The moraines that made the muddy ford

  8. Lidar image shows the modern topography

  9. York in 1066

  10. Yorkshire The Norse routes

  11. England 1066

  12. Alternative sites proposed for the battle

  13. Changes to the battle site

  14. The bigger picture

  15. Riccall - The Norse routes to the battlesite

  16. 'Riccal Rampage' map

  17. The proposed access route

  18. SSSI & the Ecology that should be protected

  19. The crop marks recorded by English Heritage

  20. Modern technology reveals the topology of the landscape

  21. Images of A19 Flooding

  22. Locating the site with evidence

 

Graphic battle sequence

This sequence of 6 small maps goes into more detail on the possible course of the battle.

The local geology- The underlying geology is key to placing the battlefield.

The defensive approach to York from the south was created in the last Ice Ages about 15 thousand years ago.

The proposed access route

Even if this was not a unique historic monument, is it wise to constrict the natural drain for the hinterland extending to the University.

Alternative sites

Some nearby locations have been suggested as the site of the battle.

Changes since 1066

We know of some changes to the site but there are others that might affect the interpretation of the limited evidence.

The bigger picture

Shows the area behind the battle site including the Ings and the retreat to York.

Using the landscape analysis it has been possible to reconstruct the landscape on which the battle was fought. A table-top model has been built.

Understanding the way the land looked in 1066 makes military sense and fits the literature very well. More

Analysis of map evidence

The collection of ancient maps in the York City library was examined. The plan was to see if the River Ouse had wandered from its course in the vicinity of modern Fulford. The maps, publication dates and some notes are tabulated below.

The topographic quality of the maps is variable. The purpose and market for the maps was evident from the features that were marked – Great Houses, Churches, tides or passable roads. Villages on the edge of a marsh were not seen as very important in this context so a limited amount of detail was available.

However, on some points the maps were consistent.  

Course of the River Ouse

Of the 8 maps, all but one of the maps (Morden 1695), defines the distinctive bend in the river just beyond Fulford. Using this distinctive feature it appear that the river has flowed from York to Fulford following roughly the same line. There is certainly no evidence of a consistent variation.

Location of a drain or ditch near Fulford

Until the Plamer map in 1726 there is no marking of a ditch where Germany Beck now flows. This map show the tide tables along the River Ouse as far as the Humber. As it was designed for sailors the location of the 'river' in the location of Germany Beck is probably fairly accurate. It shows a bridge over the Beck. There are no other tributaries between Fulford and York.

Fulford place name

Using the sharp bend mentioned earlier it is possible to place Fulford reasonably accurately. The church at St Oswald’s is often marked providing another point of reference. The place name of Fulford wanders around and often vanishes. It is impossible to draw any conclusions for the location of the place names Gate Fulford, Water Fulford or Fulford itself.

The earliest map (Saxton 1577) shows Foule Sutton where modern Fulford is located. Fowl Sutton is still on the maps a century later. Foule Sutton is used through the 18th century. Sutton is an Anglo Saxon name for South farmstead. Bowan’s map of 1750 has concentric circles for the centre of York and shows Gate Fulford correctly located at a distance of 2 miles.

There is little point expecting to find 'contemporary' records referring to the name Fulford as this probably post-dates the battle. The descriptive nature of the name remains attractive. It is surprising that it is not more common as there must have been many swampy fords around the country. 

Cartographer

Or publisher

Date

Notes

Saxton

1577 & 1607

Foule Sutton. Shape of river along modern course

John Speede

1610

Fowles Sutton: Course similar to present. The reverse of the map has an interesting commentary

John Blaey

1645

Foule Sutton: River on present course

But another version puts Middlethorpe on the East bank in place of any Fulford

Robert Morden

1695

Fowl Sutton with gate Fulford East of Heslington

John Boulter

1712

Foule Sutton: River on present course

William Palmer

1726

Tide map. Bridge over Beck besides Gate Fouldford. River on modern course

E Bowan

1750

Gate Fulford accurate positioned by distance from City.

C Smith

1804

Gate Pulford and Water Pulford in modern locations and Beck in modern position

 

Related sites Facebook  Twitter (@ helpsavefulford)        Visiting Fulford        Map York

The author of the content is Charles Jones - fulfordthing@gmail.com   Last updated April 2015

This site does not use any cookies - so nothing is knowingly installed on your computer when browsing