Gelling’s work has shown that in early English nomenclature the dun element is restricted to places south of the Ribble.

This is not a clear cut as it seems Michael. The studies of Margaret Gelling and Ann Cole relate to early settlement names. It does not necessarily follow that, a landscape feature that was once possibly known as ‘Weondune’ or ‘Brunandune’ developed into a settlement. To this day, we still puzzle over the meaning behind the first element of Symeons We(o)ndune.

Gelling’s work has shown that in early English nomenclature the dun element is restricted to places south of the Ribble.

This is not a clear cut as it seems Michael. The studies of Margaret Gelling and Ann Coles relate to early settlement names. It does not necessarily follow that, a landscape feature that was once possibly known as ‘Weondune’ or ‘Brunandune’ developed into a settlement. To this day, we still puzzle over the meaning behind the first element of Symeons We(o)ndune.

Alas for this particular case, though, our need for a dun actually works against Heysham, not for it.

Gelling’s work has shown that in early English nomenclature the dun element is restricted to places south of the Ribble (see Casebook, p. 333). Heysham, as you know, is well north of that line (though certainly not as far north as other postulated sites!).

It’s true that later centuries spread the dun element further afield (I’ve even come across it here in the States), I don’t know of anything that could show that these 13th-century references to a “brown hill” can have much to do with the 10th-century “Bruna’s settlement” that we need.

As I have said, it doesn’t matter to me whether the battle was at Bromborough or somewhere else. This isn’t my backyard, as it were, so I don’t have a personal stake in any of it. At the same time, it should be clear that my opinion that it was at Bromborough was not gained on a whim. It’s the only place we have found that fits every requirement we need.

In other words, I have an open mind about the issue, but not one so open that just anything can get in.

I have to remain open minded to all possibilities Michael and to quote your comment above

That said, “bruneberh” would fail the first criteria I set out above. Despite their similarities, the ‘-berg’ ending (which means ‘a hill or rock’)

The independant traditions of Symeon of Durham and Athelweard both have OE Dun – ‘hill’ as the second element (Weondune and Brunandune respectively). Further investigation reveals :-

“1260-1286. Grant in perpetuity from Roger de Hesaim, son of Vivian de Hesaym, to Thomas Travers, of all that land and meadow which adjoin his “culture” or ploughed land (cultura) del Quytecroft on the south, described by bounds, beginning seawards at the extremity of a certain rock which is called le Bronneberh, and so following over the summit of the said rock as far as his culture del Hallesteded, &c., with all liberties and easements in all places to so much land pertaining in the vill of Heysham and without. Witnesses: Sir Ralph (R.) de Dacre (Dakyr), steward of the Lord Edmund’s lands, Sir William de Heton, John de Oxclyve, John de Parlis, and Thomas de Parlis. (Seal.)” – from the “Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records”

This must have been one very big rock Michael with possibly the sea arch being only a part of it. I’m not sure what the OE word for ‘rock’ would have been, but the feature may have been a hill of rock (as suggested by ‘summit’ above). In which case where is the demarcation between Bruneberh – Brown Hill(of rock?) and Brunandune -Brown Hill?

Charles Phillip Hampson in his article ‘New Light on the Battle of Brunanburh’ discussing the rock says:-

” Before 1895, when it was largely destroyed to yield the stone for the making of Heysham Harbour, this remarkable rock towering above the mainland and forming a great arch through which the sea rolled at high tides was the dominating feature of Morecambe Bay, a landmark of that coast and the last surviving bastion of a rocky shore which the omniverous tides have devoured with their constant ebb and flow”

Still plenty of meat left to chew on the Brunanburh bone Michael