Project Showcase Battle of 910 AD: Aethelflaed

Aethelflaed: Celebrating Wolverhampton’s Forgotten History

The Tettenhall District Community Interest Company (TDCIC), led by Project Lead Rebecca Cresswell, has spent the past 18 months shaping an ambitious heritage project that brings one of Wolverhampton’s most important—but often overlooked—stories back into public memory.

Rooted in community, creativity and education, this project combines a city‑wide art trail, a major exhibition, and the first opera ever written about Lady Aethelflaed and the Battle of 910 AD.

In 910 AD, Anglo‑Saxon and Viking forces clashed in what is widely known as the Battle of Tettenhall—a decisive victory that helped secure the future of Mercia and the emerging English kingdom. At the centre of this history stands Lady Aethelflaed, daughter of Alfred the Great: a powerful leader, strategist and builder whose legacy has long been under‑celebrated in our region.

The  trail will “bring to life a 13‑mile route… tracing the landscape where Anglo‑Saxon and Viking forces are believed to have clashed in the pivotal Battle of 910 AD.”

A new 13‑mile Aethelflaed Trail will guide visitors from Wednesfield to Smestow Valley, marking key locations with permanent artworks, interpretation boards and interactive signage. These legacy installations will honour the landscapes where the battle is believed to have taken place and create a lasting cultural asset for the city.

The project proudly supports Aethelflaed – A New Opera, composed by internationally recognised composer André Fratto. Already attracting significant attention, the opera is the first of its kind and is set to grow into a full staged production by 2026–2027.

The opera’s development phase includes expanding the recital into a complete production with musicians, staging, lighting and costumes—“hiring musicians, securing orchestration support, developing set design and lighting.”

Follow its journey on our dedicated page or via Aethelflaed – A New Opera on Facebook.

A comprehensive schools programme will bring this remarkable local history into classrooms across Wolverhampton. Through workshops, creative activities and curriculum‑linked resources, students will explore the Anglo‑Saxon world, the Battle of 910 AD and the extraordinary leadership of Aethelflaed.

A major exhibition, Aethelflaed and the Battle of 910 AD, will open in August 2027, showcasing commissioned artworks, historical interpretation and community contributions. This exhibition will unite the trail, the opera and the education programme into one immersive celebration of Wolverhampton’s heritage.