Scarborough 1066: An enduring enigma of the Norse Sagas

Patrick Argent relates the story of the town’s reputed role in the wider context of events, preceding the battles of Fulford Gate and Stamford Bridge. These encounters would be the precursors to the impending Norman invasion of England, the outcome of which would fundamentally alter the history of this country.

In the first episode of Kenneth Clark’s television series ‘Civilisation’ (1969), he narrates: “At some time in the 9th century one could have looked down the Seine and seen the prow of a Viking ship coming up the river. Looked at today in the British Museum, it is a powerful work of art: but to a mother of a family trying to settle down in her little hut, it would have seemed less agreeable – as menacing to her civilisation as the periscope of a nuclear submarine.”

A similar scenario on a vaster scale may have occurred in Scarborough’s South Bay on the morning of September 15 with the foreboding arrival of Harald Sigurdsson’s (Hardrada’s) Viking invasion force of 300 longships.

The death of Edward the Confessor in January 1066 and the coronation of his brother-in-law Harold Godwinson, became the fateful catalyst for the ensuing events of that year.

The Norwegian warrior king claiming a right to the English throne, had traversed the North Sea linking up with the former Earl of Northumbria Tostig Godwinson, the banished and disfavoured Lord of the Manor of Falsgrave, and brother of the English monarch.

Cited in numerous history books, the circumstances that allegedly unfolded that day are based on the account in the 13th century Heimskringla Saga (History of the Kings of Norway) by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson.

Scarborough in the mid-11th Century, considered by some may have been little more than a fishing hamlet situated beneath the headland.

The Norsemen, facing resistance, the settlement was attacked and razed to the ground.

The burning of Scarborough by Hardrada is recounted by Sturluson as:

“Harald went up on the rock, which was there, had a huge bonfire built and set fire to it.

When it was blazing his men took large pitchforks and cast the fire down into the town.

All the houses caught fire one after the other, and the whole town surrendered.

The Norsemen killed many there and took all the booty they could lay hands on.

The English had no choice if they were to survive, but to swear allegiance to King Harald.”

Two decades later the Domesday Book (Great Survey) of 1086 bears no mention of ‘Scarborough’.

Theories amongst historians vary from the town simply not existing at the time, the site left barren after Hardrada’s attack, it being subsumed into the entry for Falsgrave being at the time the principal community, or being a small fishing village, it was discounted for inclusion.

Voyaging down the Yorkshire coast, the Viking fleet would pursue their quest to capture York via the Humber Estuary and the River Ouse.

The Norse invaders, although victorious in the clash with Northumbrian forces at Fulford Gate on Wednesday, September 20, were to be roundly defeated by Harold with Hardrada and Tostig killed at Stamford Bridge on Monday, September 25, this second battle becoming a key factor in events leading to Hastings.

Of the 300 longships that had arrived in Scarborough nine days before, only 24 would return to Norway.

Harold Godwinson was now to face further impending peril from another horde of Viking-descended marauders.

Ominously, having embarked from the French coast, William II, Duke of Normandy and his forces would land at Pevensey on the September 28.

The Battle of Hastings on Saturday, October 14, resulted in the defeat and dethronement of Harold Godwinson as King of England and the cessation of Anglo-Saxon rule.

Despite substantial work done in the town, archaeological evidence for Hardrada’s incendiary attack has yet to found. The enduring question remains as to whether the saga account can thus be evidentially confirmed – the seemingly ‘Holy Grail’ of Scarborough discoveries.

Former City of York Archaeologist John Oxley MBE commented: “10th and 11th Century Scarborough remains elusive in the archaeological record. However, I have no doubt that the evidence is there if we are able to look in the right place.”

Given the Norse sagas, Tostig’s connection to the area, etc. it could be argued the balance of probabilities leads optimistically towards the account being valid.

Although a subsidiary footnote in the 1066 story, if proven accurate, the attack would enrich the town’s already remarkable history by substantiating Scarborough’s place in the sequence of events of The Norman Conquest of England.

The Bayeux Tapestry is at The British Museum until July 2027. See britishmuseum.org for details.