New LIDAR Digital Terrain Model data is now available at Archi Maps. This is a revelation for the area around St Catherine’s Chapel. Compare the map on our website showing the entrenchment with the latest DTM

The Chapel itself is the small rectangle in the centre of this image.

Now we can see much more detail and there has clearly been a lot of earth moving. The ground surface has been levelled in places and a bank built surrounding the area with internal banks further dividing the area. Unfortunately without archaeological excavation we will never know when this was done.

However these results do not conflict with the legend of King Athelstan’s army building an encampment prior to a battle. The latest thoughts on the location of Brunanburh show that it was likely at Bromborough in the Wirral, so this encampment would not have been prior to that battle.