Sunday Times Travel Supplement Where Was I? Sunday 8 Jan 2023

[chokkie]

wonder if you can point me in the right direction, please, folks .... a riverside village which gives its name to a gap through which the river flows.

And a second teaser: the name of a 17th century country mansion which shares its name with a very ancient battle. apparently a musician used to live there until recently.

Any ideas, folks? Thanks in advance, Chox.

[fiveleaves]

Who was King at the time of the battle?

[chokkie]

Don’t know the king’s name, but I think it was around 1,150 years ago, and this king was succeeded by his brother. Is that Any help?

[Etch]

No need to "think" the battle was "around 1,150 years ago" - it tells you that in the puzzle! Which year does that imply? Look for events, and kings, at that time in history.

[goodgoalie]

As always now Sean Newsom sets this puzzle, there are obvious punning clues; on this occasion pointing to the identity of the musician. Sentences 6, 12 and 15.

[Etch]

Ah yes, the music related hints - even I managed to spot "Who are you, the archangel Gabriel?" and "it’ll peter out in a bit" in last week's puzzle. ;-)

[goodgoalie]

Yes, groanworthy :)

[chokkie]

Yep thanks, see the Peter Gabriel thing, and the king and his brother were Edwy and Edgar… but can’t get any further than that,,,

[Etch]

You've gone wrong with your arithmetic: Edwy (940-959) and Edgar (943-975) were in the next century from the date you need. 'Peter Gabriel' was from last week's puzzle - a different musician is hinted at in this week's.

[chokkie]

sadly, historical dates and maths isn't my strong point. But I would love to know the answer to both questions, please .....

[jno]

2023 - 1150 = 873, if that's any help.

[Etch]

How are you getting on chokkie? The king and his brother were King Æthelred I of Wessex and Alfred (later King, known as "the Great"). Æthelred died in 871 and the battle took place earlier in the same year. The site of the battle is not known for sure but the most likely location is the one referred to in the puzzle.

[chokkie]

Thanks for asking Etch. Not getting on at all, other than the king’s name, (and thank you for that)I am no further forward. Chox.

[goodgoalie]

Work out who the musician is (see clues in sentences 6, 12, 15) then look him up.....

[chokkie]

Thanks, but I've given up on this. The competition closes at the end of today, and there's so much written about the musician in question that the mind boggles, and I can't see the wood for the trees. So thanks to everyone for their suggestions, but am giving up on it! Cheers, Chox.

[Etch]

What wood/trees? If you go to the Wikipedia article for Æthelred I of Wessex the name of the battle is given in the summary. The battle you want is the one where he and Alfred were victorious, not the ones where he suffered defeats:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86thelred_I_of_Wessex

[chokkie]

thanks again, Etch. I'm still none the wiser as to the answers to the two questions, which are really more about the musician in question, rather than the kings. Still giving up, given the last entry date.... cheers, Chox.

[Etch]

Well, the name of the battle is the same as the first part of the name of the 17th century country mansion, which is the answer to the second question!

[chokkie]

Well, Etch, I think I finally got there - it's not really like me to give up with something like, just having difficulty with reading in between the lines! On line form duly completed and submitted. Doubt I'll win, but if you don't buy a ticket .... and all that! Cheers again, Chox.

[Etch]

Glad you managed to get a solution chokkie. The clues to the musician that goodgoalie was pointing out were "People try to put me down" (hinting at "people try to put us d-down" from My Generation by The Who), "substitute" (hinting at Substitute, another song by The Who) and "Who?" (hinting at ... The Who). While working on "Quadrophenia", Pete Townshend, co-founder and principal songwriter of The Who, lived in the riverside village of Goring-on-Thames, which in turn gives its name to the Goring Gap. Townshend purchased a lease of part of Ashdown House, Oxfordshire in 2010.