London’s Camelot: The History Behind Barnet’s Long-Forgotten Camlet Moat

One of the most common misconceptions about the Vikings is that they were only violent brutes who raided and pillaged and particularly revelled in tormenting the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms on the Isle. That the Norsemen were violent and liked pillage, there is no dispute. But we should not forget they were traders much earlier than they became raiders. The mere fact that they founded two of the most thriving commercial entrepots on the opposite ends of Europe – Dublin and Kyev – should convince us so. It also explains why, after paying frequent visits to the shoreline monasteries of Eastern England, the Vikings set their eyes on the most substantial trading centre in the land and raided London on multiple occasions.

Viking Trade and the Importance of 9th-Century London

To understand why the Vikings set their sights on London, it’s essential to grasp their dual identity as traders and raiders. While they are often portrayed as marauders, the Vikings were also savvy merchants. Hailing from the Scandinavian lands of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, they traded goods like furs, amber, walrus ivory, and slaves. Their far-reaching trade networks stretched from the icy North to the Mediterranean, encompassing the Islamic Caliphates and the Byzantine Empire. This extensive experience in trade gave them an eye for prosperous locations.

By the 9th century, London had begun to re-emerge as a significant centre of commerce after the collapse of Roman rule. Though it was not yet the sprawling metropolis it would become, its strategic location on the River Thames made it a valuable point for trade between the Continent and the English interior. Goods could be brought in by river, and the city’s proximity to the sea meant access to Europe was only a short voyage away. The Vikings, skilled navigators, would have quickly recognised this opportunity. For them, London wasn’t just a target for plunder but a potential hub for their trading activities.

However, for the Vikings, trade and raiding often went hand in hand. Where trade failed, force could take over. Their ships allowed them to strike coastal towns with great speed, catching settlements off-guard. This mix of trade and violence would shape their encounters with London.

The Raid of 842 AD: London in Flames

The first Viking attack on London occurred in 842 AD, later referred to as the year of the great slaughter. Details of this raid are sparse, but contemporary sources, such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, paint a vivid picture of destruction. Still recovering from centuries of decline following the fall of Roman rule, London was ill-prepared for the sudden Viking onslaught.

Arriving in their swift longships, the Vikings likely struck hard and fast. London was a tempting target, offering both wealth and prestige. The attackers set fire to buildings and slaughtered the inhabitants, showing little mercy. This tactic was designed to gather plunder and terrorise the population. The city’s defences at the time were weak, and the Vikings likely faced little organised resistance. This raid, though devastating, was a sign of things to come.

For the people of London, the 842 attack was a wake-up call. The threat from the sea was very real, and the Vikings showed no signs of slowing down their campaigns. Over the next few decades, London would find itself under repeated assault.

The Raid of 851 AD: A Fleet Like No Other

Just nine years after the initial attack, the Vikings returned, this time with even greater force. In 851 AD, a fleet of around 350 Viking ships sailed up the Thames, one of the largest naval forces seen in England at the time. For those watching from the shores of London, it must have been a terrifying sight—an armada of longships filled with warriors bent on conquest.

This raid was different from the one in 842. The Vikings had come to loot and establish dominance over the region. Led by Danish forces, they overran London, plundering the city once again. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes this raid as part of a wider campaign that saw the Vikings defeat a local English force and then winter in the south, marking one of the earliest instances of Viking attempts to settle in England.

The 851 raid demonstrated the growing ambition of the Vikings. No longer content with hit-and-run attacks, they began to see England as a place where they could establish a more permanent presence. This marked a turning point in their relationship with the island. For Londoners, it meant that Viking raids were no longer just a passing danger—they were a persistent threat.

The Great Heathen Army and the Winter of 871-2

The year 865 saw the arrival of what would become known as the Great Heathen Army—a coalition of Viking forces that invaded England to conquer the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. By 871, their campaign had reached London. The city’s importance had only grown in the intervening years, and it was now a key prize in the Viking war effort.

Under the leadership of Halfdan Ragnarsson and Guthrum, the Vikings used London as a base during the winter of 871-2. The practice of wintering in enemy territory was a relatively new tactic for the Vikings. Rather than returning to Scandinavia after a raiding season, they remained in England, using the colder months to fortify their positions and launch attacks on nearby areas. This also gave them time to form alliances with local lords, further entrenching their control.

London’s strategic location again played a role in its importance to the Vikings. The city allowed them to control the river and maintain easy access to the Continent. It also provided a defensible position to continue their campaigns against the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

Though the Great Heathen Army did not hold London permanently, their occupation of the city in 871-2 was a sign of their growing power. For the Anglo-Saxons, it was clear that the Viking threat was not going away. Once again, London was at the heart of the struggle for control of England.

The Sieges of 1013 and 1016: London Under Danish Control

The Viking presence in London reached its zenith in the early 11th century, during the reign of King Æthelred the Unready. By this time, Viking raids had become almost annual, and the Danish ambition to conquer England was stronger than ever. In 1013, King Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark launched a full-scale invasion of England, aiming to take the throne himself. London was one of his primary targets.

Sweyn’s siege of London in 1013 was a significant moment. By this time, the city had built stronger defences, including fortified walls, which made it a more challenging target than in previous centuries. Nevertheless, after several assaults, Sweyn managed to bring the city to its knees, and London eventually submitted to him. By the end of the year, Æthelred had fled into exile, and Sweyn was recognised as king of England.

However, Sweyn’s rule was short-lived. He died in 1014, and Æthelred returned from exile, retaking London. But the peace was fragile, and within two years, London was under siege again—this time by Sweyn’s son, Cnut. The siege of 1016 was one of the most brutal in London’s history. Cnut’s forces laid waste to the surrounding countryside and attempted to starve the city into submission.

After a series of battles and skirmishes, London finally fell to Cnut, who became king of England. His conquest marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon period in London’s history and the beginning of a new era of Danish rule.

Legacy of the Vikings in London

The Viking impact on London was profound. From the early raids of the 9th century to the conquests of the 11th, the city was shaped by its encounters with these Scandinavian warriors and traders. London’s defences were strengthened in response to the Viking threat, and its importance as a centre of trade and power grew as it became clear that whoever controlled London could control much of England.

Beyond the military clashes, the Vikings left a more subtle mark on the city’s development. Their influence lingered in the local economy as they integrated into trade networks that stretched from the British Isles to the broader Viking world. Archaeological discoveries, including Viking coins, jewellery, and tools, show they had a lasting presence in the city, even during relative peace.

London became a microcosm of the Viking influence on England in many ways. With its bustling port and diverse population, the city embodied the balance between conflict and cooperation that characterised the Viking Age. Viking raids brought destruction, but their trading expertise helped transform London into a more connected and economically dynamic city. As invaders, conquerors, and merchants, the Vikings made London one of their key hubs—a legacy still traced in the city’s fabric today.

Tucked away in the quiet district of Abbey Wood in southeast London, the ruins of Lesnes Abbey offer a glimpse into the religious, social, and political landscape of medieval England. Once a thriving centre of monastic life, the abbey now stands as a reminder of the country’s shifting tides in history—from its founding in 1178 as an act of penance to its turbulent final years under the weight of political and religious upheaval. This is the story of Lesnes Abbey, an often-overlooked site that played a significant role in London’s medieval past.

The Early Years: Founded in 1178 by Richard de Luci

Lesnes Abbey traces its origins to the late 12th century when it was founded in 1178 by Richard de Luci, one of the most powerful men in England at the time. De Luci held the office of Chief Justiciar of England, effectively serving as the king’s right-hand man in judicial and administrative matters. As Chief Justiciar, de Luci was responsible for overseeing the kingdom’s legal affairs, governing in the king’s absence, and ensuring the law was upheld across the land. In short, he wielded immense power.

But Richard de Luci’s career was not without controversy. In 1170, he was implicated in the infamous murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket’s death shocked the Christian world, and though King Henry II was at the heart of the scandal, several of his closest advisors, including de Luci, carried the weight of guilt by association. Some historians argue that the founding of Lesnes Abbey was de Luci’s way of performing an act of penance for his role in the events leading up to Becket’s murder. It was not uncommon in medieval England for the wealthy and powerful to endow religious institutions to secure their place in heaven, particularly when they felt the need for redemption.

The abbey was built as an Augustinian monastery, a fitting choice as the Augustinians were known for their devotion to study, preaching, and pastoral care. Located near the Thames River and surrounded by fertile lands, Lesnes Abbey was well-positioned to thrive spiritually and economically. It was granted estates and lands that provided for its upkeep, and monks lived according to the Augustinian rule, serving the local community and engaging in religious study and prayer.

The Turbulent Years: Lesnes Abbey and the Peasant Rebellion

For a time, Lesnes Abbey enjoyed relative peace, but by the late 14th century, the world outside its walls was becoming increasingly turbulent. One of the most significant events that affected Lesnes Abbey during this period was the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, led by Wat Tyler. This uprising, fuelled by discontent over poll taxes and social inequality, spread like wildfire across England, with peasants targeting religious houses and wealthy landowners who they felt had long oppressed them.

Though Lesnes Abbey was not at the heart of the rebellion, its proximity to London meant it was not immune to the unrest. Abbeys and monasteries were often symbols of both spiritual authority and feudal oppression. For many rebels, these institutions represented the wealth and power they sought to overthrow. The monks at Lesnes, like their counterparts across England, were vulnerable to attack, and though Lesnes Abbey was never ransacked during the rebellion, the threat of violence loomed large. A group of rebels under Abel Ker from Erith forced their way into the abbey and made the abbot swear an oath of allegiance to their cause.

The revolt was quickly quashed, but the social tensions it exposed remained. For Lesnes Abbey, this period marked the beginning of its decline. The economic strain caused by ongoing political unrest and the crown’s increasing financial demands on religious houses meant that Lesnes struggled to maintain its former prosperity.

The Inauspicious Ending: Cardinal Wolsey and the Early Reformation

The final blow to Lesnes Abbey came in 1526, during Henry VIII’s reign. By this time, the winds of change were sweeping through England, and the once untouchable power of the Catholic Church was beginning to wane. At the heart of this shift was Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the king’s chief advisor and one of the most powerful figures in England. Wolsey had been tasked with reforming the English church, and one of his strategies was the dissolution of smaller, less prosperous monasteries.

Lesnes Abbey, which had already been in financial trouble for some time, became one of the early victims of these reforms. In 1524, it was identified as a “superfluous” institution—too small and poor to justify its continued existence. In 1526, the abbey was officially closed two years later, and the crown confiscated its lands and assets.

This closure was a harbinger of the larger dissolution of monasteries in the 1530s when Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church and established the Church of England. The Dissolution of the Monasteries saw hundreds of religious houses across England closed, their wealth transferred to the crown and their buildings left to crumble. For Lesnes Abbey, this marked the end of nearly four centuries of monastic life.

The fate of Lesnes Abbey reflects the broader changes taking place in England at the time. The early Reformation years were marked by a shift away from the authority of the pope and the Roman Catholic Church, as Henry VIII sought to consolidate his power and gain control over England’s religious institutions. Many smaller abbeys, like Lesnes, could not survive this turbulent period; their downfall hastened by political and economic forces beyond their control.

Lesnes Abbey Today: A Ruined Reminder of a Lost Past

Today, the ruins of Lesnes Abbey (a Grade II site) stand as a testament to the abbey’s long and complex history. Visitors to the site can explore the remains of the abbey’s church, cloisters, and other monastic buildings, all of which give a sense of the scale and importance of the abbey in its heyday. Though much of the abbey has been lost to time, the site’s layout is still visible, and information boards provide context for those who come to learn about this fascinating slice of medieval history.

One of the most striking aspects of visiting Lesnes Abbey today is the juxtaposition of the ancient ruins with the modern city of London in the background. It reminds us how much the city has changed over the centuries and how its medieval past still lingers beneath the surface.

Lesnes Abbey has also become a popular spot for locals seeking a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. The surrounding Lesnes Abbey Woods provide a tranquil setting for walking and picnicking, while the carefully preserved ruins offer an evocative glimpse into London’s distant past.

Though the abbey is no longer a functioning religious institution, its legacy lives on in the local community and the history books. Lesnes Abbey, from its founding in 1178 to its dissolution in 1526, mirrors the broader story of medieval England—one of faith, conflict, and change.

In many ways, Lesnes Abbey represents a microcosm of the forces that shaped medieval London. From its foundation as a penitent act by a powerful man through the social upheaval of the Peasants’ Revolt to its final dissolution in the Reformation, the abbey’s history offers valuable insights into the political and religious landscape of the time. Visiting the ruins today, it is easy to imagine the monks who once walked its cloisters, their lives shaped by the same forces of power, faith, and politics that continue to shape the world today.