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Local HistoryYou are in: Berkshire > History > Local History > From Normandy to Wraysbury From Normandy to WraysburyBy Ollie Williams English Heritage recently launched a campaign to find out who might have been royalty now had William the Conqueror been defeated in 1066. Mark Golledge, a financial director from Berkshire, tells us why he's in the frame.  In an alternative reality, could it be King Mark? You should be familiar with the lady on the right but, had William the Conqueror lost the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the gentleman on the left could well be King today.
That's according to English Heritage, whose recent campaign aimed to discover alternative heirs to the throne had William been defeated. 150 applicants from around the world were shortlisted, each claiming a direct link to members of Saxon royalty such as King Harold, Edward the Confessor, Edgar the Aetheling or Alfred the Great.  The family tree starts with Alfred the Great... Calling Alfred and William familyMark Golledge, a chartered accountant and finance director from Wraysbury, is on the shortlist - and he has the evidence to prove it, including an illustrated family tree tracing his roots all the way back to Alfred. "I've known about my family history since I was a child," Mark tells us. "My mother always kept her family tree going back to Alfred the Great hidden in her bureau, and occasionally she would bring it out to show me. "I'm not only a direct descendant of King Alfred but also William the Conqueror and the Saxon Hereward the Wake, who continued to fight with the Normans after the Conquest. The Wake family appears on my tree up to the eighteenth century."  ... and ends with Mark Golledge. 'A bit of fun'The chances of a royal lifestyle for Mark are now remote, if we're honest, and he acknowledges it's all very light-hearted. "I've always been interested in history and it's fascinating travelling around Britain linking churches and places to my ancestors. "I live in Wraysbury, where King John may have signed the Magna Carta on Magna Carta Island opposite Runneymede. He is also an ancestor. "But to say there are just a few alternative heirs to the English throne is rather misleading - this is just interesting and a bit of fun." last updated: 31/03/2008 at 00:30 Have Your Saydaniel r golledge John Golledge John Golledge Emma Golledge Mark Golledge Penny Golledge roy golledge Vivek Badhwar SEE ALSOYou are in: Berkshire > History > Local History > From Normandy to Wraysbury
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