Local History | King Harold II & Queen Boudicca

King Harold II : 1020-1066AD

Waltham Abbey and it's surrounding area has it's strongest royal connection with King Harold II 1020 - 1066 AD who was the last Saxon King of England.
It is believed the settlement of Waltham may have been a hunting lodge of the early Saxon Kings of Essex and that the nearby farm house, Harold's Park Farm at Bumbles Green near Nazeing was actually built on the ancient site of King Harold's hunting lodge. There are even rumours that King Harold had built, a tunnel from the site to Waltham Abbey in thanksgiving to the Abbey after being cured of an illness there.

The remains of a Viking hall were found on the site of Waltham Abbey, which may have belonged to Tovi the Proud, the owner of the area in the early part of the 11th century. Tovi was Marshal to King Cnut, and he also owned estates at Montacute where he found a crucifix which worked miracles. Tovi brought this “Holy Cross” to Waltham and then built a church where it could be safely kept. The Miraculous Cross of Waltham became a place of pilgrimage, and its presence led to the establishment of the town.

When the Viking Lord Tovi died, the estate returned to King Edward the Confessor, who gave it to Harold Godwinson, Earl of Essex, later Earl of Wessex and finally to become King. Harold was a trusted adviser to the King, and a generous benefactor of the church at Waltham.


During a military campaign against the Welsh Harold had been stricken by some form of paralysis. He was only cured after prayers were said for him and he prayed before the Holy Cross at Waltham. Harold rebuilt the church in around 1057 and founded a cecular college of a dean and twelve canons in thanks for his recovery.
Harold’s estates reached to Nazeing, where his mistress, Edith Swan-Neck, lived in one of the manor houses.

The death of Edward the Confessor in 1066 without a direct heir led to conflicting claims as to whom the throne had been promised. Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, seized the moment and proclaimed himself King, but fate led to his reign being less than a year. Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, when Duke William of Normandy defeated the Saxons. Eventually, Harold’s body was identified by Edith Swan-Neck, and was returned to Waltham for burial in his favourite church. It is likely that his two brothers were also buried at Waltham.

Crowned King of England and buried at Waltham Abbey the same year....
In the early 1060s Waltham belonged to Earl Harold Godwinsson brother-in-law and right hand man of King Edward the Confessor. When King Edward died the Witan or Great Council chose Harold to be king. This angered Duke William of Normandy who felt Harold had broken a sacred promise made several years earlier to support his claim to the throne. He made preparations to invade England and win his crown.

Harold also faced opposition from Harald Hardrada king of Norway. Hardrada invaded the north of England and seized York with the support of Harold's brother Tostig. Harold hastened northwards and defeated the invaders at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Receiving news that William had landed in Sussex Harold marched his weary men south pausing at his church in Waltham to pray for victory.

On the 14 th October 1066 Harold and William faced each other just outside Hastings. According to the Bayeux Tapestry Harold was shot in the eye by an arrow. Allegedly his body was so badly mutilated that only his common-law wife Edith was able to find it on the battlefield.

The body was brought to the church at Waltham and entombed to the west of the High Altar. The memorial stone now in the churchyard is incorrect as it marks a site behind the high altar. Only a canonised saint would in fact be buried here.

Harold's body was moved in the 17th Century and his remains lost in a fire. The legend and speculation surrounding his burial continue to this day.

Queen Boudicca (died c.AD 60)

Local legend has it that Queen Boudicca was defeated nearby by the Romans in 61AD in her gallant last stand against the Romans at Ambresbury Banks, an ancient British camp, and poisoned herself with hemlock gathered on the banks of Cobbins Brook.

Boudicca was Queen of the Iceni people of Eastern England and led a major uprising against occupying Roman forces. She was married to Prasutagus, ruler of the Iceni people of East Anglia. When the Romans conquered southern England in AD 43, they allowed Prasutagus to continue to rule. However, when Prasutagus died the Romans decided to rule the Iceni directly and confiscated the property of the leading tribesmen. They are also said to have stripped and flogged Boudicca and raped her daughters. These actions exacerbated widespread resentment at Roman rule.

In AD 60 or AD 61, while the Roman governor Gaius Suetonius Paullinus was leading a campaign in South Wales, the Iceni rebelled. Members of other tribes joined them.

Boudicca's warriors successfully defeated the Roman Ninth Legion and destroyed the capital of Roman Britain, then at Colchester. They went on to destroy London and Verulamium (St Albans). Thousands were killed. Finally, Boudicca was defeated by a Roman army led by Paulinus. Many Britons were killed and Boudicca is thought to have poisoned herself to avoid capture.

The site of the battle, and of Boudicca's death, are unknown but rumoured to be around the area of Waltham Abbey, Nazeing and Epping, Essex.