Welcome to Dr Sam Newton’s Wuffings’ Website Website, which aims to provide a focus for the study of Sutton Hoo and the history and culture of the Wuffing Kingdom of East Anglia, Beowulf, and beyond.
Header-picture above: Æt Hrædwaldes-Cyninges-Hlæwe, ‘At Rædwald’s King’s Barrow’ (©Dr Sam Newton 2013, 2025).
Please scroll down for information about (1) Wuffing Education study-days, study-mornings, and my weekly seminars, (2) available lectures, (3) about me and my works, (4) my books and other publications, and (5) some old but still occasionally useful resources for Wuffing & Sutton Hoo Studies. You might also be interested in my YouTube channel . I also make occasional Wuffing Education uploads on the Facebook.
1. Study-days, study-mornings, and weekly seminars (live and online) scheduled so far for 2026
The Battle of Stamford Bridge (25th September 1066)
A 960th anniversary online study-day reassessing one of the greatest victories over an invading army in British history, with Dr Sam Newton FSA on 25th September 2026.
Above: The Battle of Stamford Bridge, by Peter Nicolai Arbo (1870), showing King Harald Hardrada (centre) receiving his death-wound from an arrow in the throat (according to Snorre Sturluson [1179-1241]) – thanks to Wikimedia Commons for this Public Domain image.
On Monday, 25th September, 1066, at Stamford Bridge, just east of York, Harald Godwinson, the newly-crowned Anglo-Danish king of England, killed the Norse king Harald Sigurdson, popularly known as Harald Hardrada, utterly routed his forces, and captured his fleet. Unfortunately this astounding event has been overshadowed by Harald Godwinson’s own death in battle near Hastings 19 days later, but we shall reconsider his battle-skill at Stamford Bridge in its own light.
The Bayeux Tapestry
an online study-day with Dr Sam Newton FSA on Friday 9th October 2026.
An exploration of this magnificent embroidery and the dramatic history that its narrative art reveals.
Above: detail of the narrative climax of the Tapestry showing the death of King Harold (Wikipedia / Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain).
Beyond the Bayeux Tapestry
an online study-day with Dr Gareth Williams on Friday 6th November 2026.
A new look at the Tapestry in the light of recently discovered coin-hoards, which reveal a different perspective on the events of 1066.
– please note these events are not recorded –
– more Autumn study-day dates to follow soon –
Monday morning online seminars exploring the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Above: Wódnesbeorg (Woden’s Barrow), Wiltshire, mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, as shown here, as the site of battle in 592; another battle here is mentioned in the entry for 715 (© Dr Sam Newton, 9th October 2008).
A series of weekly online Monday morning seminars exploring the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of the primary cultural documents of the English-speaking peoples. Its language includes examples of the ancient English medium of alliterative poetry as well as some of the first original compositions in English prose, the linguistic style of which anticipates the language of the King James version of the Bible. Its great narrative scope also provides an Old Testament of English history. related texts, We shall consider closely this wonderful document in the light of Anglo-Saxon art, landscape studies, recent research, and new discoveries.
Provisional Schedule:
- Monday 6th July
- Monday 13th July
- Autumn Schedule to follow soon
For more details and bookings, please click here.
Wednesday Morning Live Seminars on Sutton Hoo and Beowulf Studies
Above: detail from the book-cover created by artist Michael Leonard for the translation of Beowulf by David Wright (Panther 1970) (©with kind permission of the Estate of the late Michael Leonard).
An ongoing seminar-series Live on Wednesday mornings exploring the great Old English poem Beowulf, one of the primary cultural documents from the early history of the English-speaking peoples. We shall consider it closely, along with related texts, languages, landscapes, history, archaeology, and art, attempting thus to chart something of the forgotten soundscapes of the “Golden Age” associated with the Sutton Hoo ship-burial.
Provisional Schedule:
- Wednesday 8th July
- Wednesday 15th July
- Autumn Schedule to follow soon
For more details and bookings, please click here.
– please note that these events are not recorded –
– click here for the full programme of Wuffing Education Events on Eventbrite –
Also on Dr Sam Newton’s Wuffings’ Website:
2. If you wish to book me to deliver a lecture or study-day, click here for a selection of titles.
3. About Me and My Works
4. My Books:
1. The Origins of Beowulf and the pre-Viking Kingdom of East Anglia (1993)
2. The Reckoning of King Rædwald (2003)
My more recently published papers, such as “The Forgotten History of St Bótwulf (Botolph)” (2016), can be downloaded from my page on Academia.
5. Resources for Wuffing Studies:
Wuffings’ Who Was Who (genealogical & historical information)
Sutton Hoo: Burial-Ground of the Wuffings (some of the wonders of the royal ship-burial)
Wuffing and Related Places of Interest (sites where the Wuffings walked; and more) – work in progress
In Defence of the Wuffings (Book Review) – my response to some of Professor Martin Carver’s theories about Sutton Hoo and the kings of East Anglia.
Sutton Hoo: Burial-Ground of Dissidents? – further thoughts on Professor Martin Carver’s theories about Sutton Hoo.
Some Wuffing Studies’ reading lists
Some Old Links to related Websites
