Where is camelot

So Field did additional research based on the historical forts of the time and compared them to the legend of King Arthur. He says the site that best fits Camelot was the modern-day village of Slack. Looking at Slack today, you'd be hard-pressed to find a reason why someone would want to build a stronghold in what looks to be a mere clearing , but Field says the location was once of great military importance. Back in AD, Celtic-speaking Britons held back Anglo-Saxon invaders who flooded into the country from the north and west coasts.

It turns out that Slack, which is seemingly in the middle of nowhere, could have been the ideal spot to set up camp to quickly funnel troops to either coast to defend the nation. Its middle-of-nowhere-ness, it turns out, was important. Google Maps. To add to Field's hypothesis, in Roman times, the fort at Slack was thought to be named Camulodunum , which researchers think might have changed linguistically over the years to become Camelot.

For hundreds of years, a round wooden tabletop has been displayed in the Great Hall at Winchester Castle in Hampshire. It is painted with the names of King Arthur and 24 knights, and shows their places around the table. It has hung in the Great Hall, Winchester since at least , and possibly since as far back as It was almost certainly painted during the reign of Henry VIII in the early s, as it has the Tudor rose at its centre and is thought to portray King Henry as Arthur on his throne, surrounded by the Knights of the Round Table.

Whilst Winchester Castle was built in the late 11th century, it is interesting to note that in the 9th century, the town of Winchester was the ancient court and capital of King Alfred the Great , a great warrior famous for defeating the Danish invaders and a great statesman, law maker and wise leader.

Coincidentally, these are all traits that the legendary Arthur was supposed to possess: a successful warrior leading his people against invaders and at the same time, a wise and gracious leader. The locations above are only four of the many places that have been associated with the Arthurian legend of Camelot. Unfortunately it seems likely that we will never know for sure whether Camelot actually existed, and if it did exist, where it was situated.

However the legend of King Arthur and his Camelot lives on, as popular as ever. Camelot, from a 14th century manuscript This is the earliest reference to Arthur. Let us look at the top four contenders for Camelot. Tintagel Castle, Tintagel, Cornwall. Related articles. The Roman Fortress of Isca. Winchester, Ancient Capital of England.

The retired professor has been researching the possible site of the castle for the last 18 months. The location of Camelot has been the subject of significant debate, with numerous people claiming to have discovered the true site of the fort and its famous round table. Earlier this year scientists uncovered a huge wall that is likely to have formed part of a Dark Ages palace in Tintagel — the rumoured birthplace of the famous King.

Whether King Arthur actually existed remains a matter of dispute. Some people suggest the legendary figure may be based on a number of real-life British rulers merged in to one while others say the legend is likely to be based on a real king. There appears to be little hope of finding King Arthur's mythical Camelot soon, however: the location Prof. Field has pinpointed currently lies under a golf course and the M62 motorway. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies.