Legend says King Arthur was taken to the Isle of Avalon after he was injured in a battle with his enemy Mordred before disappearing.
But now a historian claims to have found where the great British ruler is buried - in a field in Shropshire.
Graham Phillips, who has been researching the life of King Arthur for years, says he has found evidence that suggests the medieval leader was buried outside the village of Baschurch.
He claims to have narrowed down the king's tomb to one of two locations - an earthworks just outside the village thought to be an old fort, dubbed 'The Berth', and the site of a former chapel.
He is now calling on English Heritage to allow an investigation of The Berth, while he is also interested in looking at the site of a former chapel.
Is King Arthur buried in a field in Shropshire? Historian claims tomb of legendary ruler lies near medieval village
Historian says King Arthur was buried outside the village of Baschurch
He says an earthworks thought to be an old fort is the best candidate
But he believes the site of a former chapel in the village may also be likely
He claims poem from the Dark Ages points to churches of 'Bassa'
By Richard Gray for MailOnline
17 May 2016
Daily Mail
Legend says King Arthur was taken to the Isle of Avalon after he was injured in a battle with his enemy Mordred before disappearing.
But now a historian claims to have found where the great British ruler is buried - in a field in Shropshire.
Graham Phillips, who has been researching the life of King Arthur for years, says he has found evidence that suggests the medieval leader was buried outside the village of Baschurch.
Forget Avalon! A historian claims to have found where King Arthur is buried - in a field in Shropshire. An aerial photograph of the site, known as The Berth, is shown above
He claims to have narrowed down the king's tomb to one of two locations - an earthworks just outside the village thought to be an old fort, dubbed 'The Berth', and the site of a former chapel.
He is now calling on English Heritage to allow an investigation of The Berth, while he is also interested in looking at the site of a former chapel.
Tapestry showing Arthur as one of the Nine Worthies, wearing a coat of arms often attributed to him (c. 1385)
Mr Phillips, from Stafford, who explains his theory in his latest book The Lost Tomb of King Arthur, says his investigations follow on from his previous works which say King Arthur lived at the Roman fortress at Wroxeter in Shropshire.
It's traditionally thought the king led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders wielding his sword, Excalibur, and was born at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall.
Mr Phillips said: 'From my research he came from Shropshire, not the south-west of England as everybody else says.
'In the Oxford University Library there is a poem from the Dark Ages which refers to the kings from Wroxeter who were buried at the Churches of Bassa - and when you think about anywhere in Shropshire that sounds similar, you think of Baschurch.
'There is a place that matches the description just outside the village, an earthworks known as The Berth, which were two islands in a lake, though obviously the lake has now gone.'
Mr Phillips, who describes himself as a historical detective, says although no excavations have taken place, some outline work has found a pit containing a large piece of metal.
He believes this may be King Arthur, buried with his shield, just as monarchs were laid to rest at that time.
He said: 'At the moment I'm trying to get permission from English Heritage for an archaeological dig, but they don't often give that because they want to protect the site.
'With technology moving forward, in the not-so-distant future we may be able to see what is in there without digging.
'But I believe it is absolutely necessary because otherwise other people might go there and destroy the site.'
Mr Phillips is calling on English Heritage to allow an investigation The Berth (pictured from above), while he is also interested in looking at the site of a former chapel
Baschurch is to the north west of Shropshire's county town Shrewsbury
Mr Phllips is also keen on another site, a country lane in the village called Birch Grove where evidence of an old chapel was found back in the 1930s.
He added: 'In some versions of the tale of King Arthur he died on an island, but was brought back to shore for burial.
'So it is possible and when they found the remains, they found part of a gravestone with Latin writing that appears to translate to 'Here Lies'.
'It would be easier to get permission to dig there because it is not protected, so that could take place very soon.'
Graham Phillips is a best-selling author and historical detective
FACT OR FICTION: DID THE LEGENDARY KING ARTHUR REALLY EXIST?
Both the Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons) and Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals) state that Arthur was a genuine historical figure, a Romano-British leader who fought against the invading Anglo-Saxons in the late 5th to early 6th century.
The 9th Century Historia Brittonum lists 12 battles that King Arthur fought, including the Battle of Mons Badonicus, where he is said to have killed 960 men - but some scholars have dismissed the reliability of this text.
Tintangel Castle is popularly thought to be the legendary birthplace of King Arthur based on the discovery of a slate engraved with ‘Artognou’ which was found at the site in 1998.
Silchester was the site of King Arthur’s coronation and was able to continuously defend itself against the Saxons.
Clive Owen portrayed the legendary leader in the 2004 film, King Arthur, but whether he really existed is still a matter of debate among historians
The Roman name for Silchester was Calleba – similar to the name given to Arthur’s sword, Excalibur.
One of Arthur’s celebrated battles against the Saxons was fought at Chester or the City of the Legion, as it was known in the Dark Ages.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of battle at nearby Heronbridge, and recent excavations show the amphitheatre was fortified during this period, with a shrine to a Christian martyr at its centre.
This fits a description of Arthur’s Round Table, which was said to be a very large structure, seating 1,600 of his warriors.
During the 1960s, excavations by Philip Rahtz showed someone had inhabited the top of Glastonbury Tor during the so-called Arthurian period.
According to the legends, this could have been King Meluas, who abducted Queen Guinevere to his castle at Glastonbury, or Arthur’s warrior Gwynn ap Nudd, who was banished from his Palace on the Tor.
In 1191, monks at Glastonbury Abbey found the body of a gigantic man, wounded several times in the head. The bones of his wife and a tress of her golden hair were also in the oak coffin.
Found with the burial was an ancient lead cross, inscribed with ‘Here lies buried the famous king Arthur with Guinevere his second wife, in the Isle of Avalon’.
In 1962, archaeological evidence was found supporting the story that a tomb within the ancient church had been disturbed centuries previously.
The whereabouts of the cross and bones are no longer known.
However, Arthur is not mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle or any documents written between 400 and 820 - including Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People.
But now a historian claims to have found where the great British ruler is buried - in a field in Shropshire.
Graham Phillips, who has been researching the life of King Arthur for years, says he has found evidence that suggests the medieval leader was buried outside the village of Baschurch.
He claims to have narrowed down the king's tomb to one of two locations - an earthworks just outside the village thought to be an old fort, dubbed 'The Berth', and the site of a former chapel.
He is now calling on English Heritage to allow an investigation of The Berth, while he is also interested in looking at the site of a former chapel.
Is King Arthur buried in a field in Shropshire? Historian claims tomb of legendary ruler lies near medieval village
Historian says King Arthur was buried outside the village of Baschurch
He says an earthworks thought to be an old fort is the best candidate
But he believes the site of a former chapel in the village may also be likely
He claims poem from the Dark Ages points to churches of 'Bassa'
By Richard Gray for MailOnline
17 May 2016
Daily Mail
Legend says King Arthur was taken to the Isle of Avalon after he was injured in a battle with his enemy Mordred before disappearing.
But now a historian claims to have found where the great British ruler is buried - in a field in Shropshire.
Graham Phillips, who has been researching the life of King Arthur for years, says he has found evidence that suggests the medieval leader was buried outside the village of Baschurch.
Forget Avalon! A historian claims to have found where King Arthur is buried - in a field in Shropshire. An aerial photograph of the site, known as The Berth, is shown above
He claims to have narrowed down the king's tomb to one of two locations - an earthworks just outside the village thought to be an old fort, dubbed 'The Berth', and the site of a former chapel.
He is now calling on English Heritage to allow an investigation of The Berth, while he is also interested in looking at the site of a former chapel.
Tapestry showing Arthur as one of the Nine Worthies, wearing a coat of arms often attributed to him (c. 1385)
Mr Phillips, from Stafford, who explains his theory in his latest book The Lost Tomb of King Arthur, says his investigations follow on from his previous works which say King Arthur lived at the Roman fortress at Wroxeter in Shropshire.
It's traditionally thought the king led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders wielding his sword, Excalibur, and was born at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall.
Mr Phillips said: 'From my research he came from Shropshire, not the south-west of England as everybody else says.
'In the Oxford University Library there is a poem from the Dark Ages which refers to the kings from Wroxeter who were buried at the Churches of Bassa - and when you think about anywhere in Shropshire that sounds similar, you think of Baschurch.
'There is a place that matches the description just outside the village, an earthworks known as The Berth, which were two islands in a lake, though obviously the lake has now gone.'
Mr Phillips, who describes himself as a historical detective, says although no excavations have taken place, some outline work has found a pit containing a large piece of metal.
He believes this may be King Arthur, buried with his shield, just as monarchs were laid to rest at that time.
He said: 'At the moment I'm trying to get permission from English Heritage for an archaeological dig, but they don't often give that because they want to protect the site.
'With technology moving forward, in the not-so-distant future we may be able to see what is in there without digging.
'But I believe it is absolutely necessary because otherwise other people might go there and destroy the site.'
Mr Phillips is calling on English Heritage to allow an investigation The Berth (pictured from above), while he is also interested in looking at the site of a former chapel
Baschurch is to the north west of Shropshire's county town Shrewsbury
Mr Phllips is also keen on another site, a country lane in the village called Birch Grove where evidence of an old chapel was found back in the 1930s.
He added: 'In some versions of the tale of King Arthur he died on an island, but was brought back to shore for burial.
'So it is possible and when they found the remains, they found part of a gravestone with Latin writing that appears to translate to 'Here Lies'.
'It would be easier to get permission to dig there because it is not protected, so that could take place very soon.'
Graham Phillips is a best-selling author and historical detective
FACT OR FICTION: DID THE LEGENDARY KING ARTHUR REALLY EXIST?
Both the Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons) and Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals) state that Arthur was a genuine historical figure, a Romano-British leader who fought against the invading Anglo-Saxons in the late 5th to early 6th century.
The 9th Century Historia Brittonum lists 12 battles that King Arthur fought, including the Battle of Mons Badonicus, where he is said to have killed 960 men - but some scholars have dismissed the reliability of this text.
Tintangel Castle is popularly thought to be the legendary birthplace of King Arthur based on the discovery of a slate engraved with ‘Artognou’ which was found at the site in 1998.
Silchester was the site of King Arthur’s coronation and was able to continuously defend itself against the Saxons.
Clive Owen portrayed the legendary leader in the 2004 film, King Arthur, but whether he really existed is still a matter of debate among historians
The Roman name for Silchester was Calleba – similar to the name given to Arthur’s sword, Excalibur.
One of Arthur’s celebrated battles against the Saxons was fought at Chester or the City of the Legion, as it was known in the Dark Ages.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of battle at nearby Heronbridge, and recent excavations show the amphitheatre was fortified during this period, with a shrine to a Christian martyr at its centre.
This fits a description of Arthur’s Round Table, which was said to be a very large structure, seating 1,600 of his warriors.
During the 1960s, excavations by Philip Rahtz showed someone had inhabited the top of Glastonbury Tor during the so-called Arthurian period.
According to the legends, this could have been King Meluas, who abducted Queen Guinevere to his castle at Glastonbury, or Arthur’s warrior Gwynn ap Nudd, who was banished from his Palace on the Tor.
In 1191, monks at Glastonbury Abbey found the body of a gigantic man, wounded several times in the head. The bones of his wife and a tress of her golden hair were also in the oak coffin.
Found with the burial was an ancient lead cross, inscribed with ‘Here lies buried the famous king Arthur with Guinevere his second wife, in the Isle of Avalon’.
In 1962, archaeological evidence was found supporting the story that a tomb within the ancient church had been disturbed centuries previously.
The whereabouts of the cross and bones are no longer known.
However, Arthur is not mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle or any documents written between 400 and 820 - including Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People.
Last edited: