Finding a clearing in a forest of Viking history

NO child I taught in the early years of secondary school had a jaundiced view of Vikings (Yorkshire Post, February 14) because I read them Henry Treece’s Horned Helmet – a fictional account of the life of a boy called Beorn (Bjorn) – and introduced them to the rich Viking culture, some of whose (Norwegian) language they still used.

Treece drew his inspiration from the sagas and Beorn returns as a man to Yorkshire.

Ealdorman Beorn features in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles in 780 and Eorl Beorn in 1049; both were murdered for their loyalties.

Ealdorman Beorn was a Northumbrian; Eorl Beorn was murdered in Sandwich.

Victorian scholars attributed my home town’s name to the Old English “barn in a clearing”.

There are only two Barnsleys in England; ours and one in Gloucestershire. There would surely be dozens if they were right.

It seems evident that the 789 Beorn gave his name to Beornsleah (a clearing) in Beornsdale which gave its name to the Forest.

Another clincher is the precursor to Barnsley’s Lundwood – a Lund/Lounde

in the histories – where

Monk Bretton Priory was

built.

There is a small town in south west Norway called Lund. It is situated on an almost mirror opposite to the river system from the Humber to the Dearne.

The Anglo Saxon Chronicles do not relate whether our Beorn was burnt at the stake at “Seletun” (Selston, North Nottinghamshire) as a pagan or Christian.

Treece made him a Christian.

If evidence is found that he was, then he should be recognised as a martyr.