All Saints Kingston Edmund succeeded King Athelstan who died on 27 Oct 939 ( recorded 940 in Anglo Saxon Chronicles since the year was reckoned to begin on 24 September). The coronation of Edmund is not recorded. It is likely to have occurred late in 939 or in 940. Edred in the chronicle of Florence of Worcester, it is recorded that Edred was crowned at Kingston on Sunday 16 August, 946. Edwy succeeded King Edred, who died 23 Nov. 955. According to the chronicle of Florence of Worcester, he was crowned at Kingston in the same year,ie late November or December 955. ( his is an interesting and scandalous story, of cavorting with loose women after his coronation much to the annoyance of the archbishop!) Edgar was crowned on 11 May 973 at Bath ( Anglo- Saxon chronicles). Edward the Martyr was consecrated at some date after King Edgar’s death on 8 July 975. The coronation probably took place later in the year 975, but neither the exact date nor place is known. Ethelred II (the unready) was crowned at Kingston in 979 but the exact date cannot be determined. The Anglo Saxon Chronicle describes the Coronation of Ethelred : A.D.979. In this year was Ethelred consecrated King, on the Sunday fortnight after Easter, at Kingston. And there were at his consecration, two archbishops and ten diocesan bishops’ The chronicles state that the crowning took place very soon after the murder of King Edward. We don’t know whether Edward was murdered on 18 March 978 or 979, so Ethelred’s coronation either took place on 14 April 978, or 4 May 979. Footnote I am most grateful to June Sampson for drawing my attention to the notes of H.Cross the Borough Librarian, who in 1956 noted the references to the Stone in the Court of Assembly minute books, and to Emma Rummins, Jill Lamb and Anne McCormack for tracking down his original notes in the Local History Room; June also discovered the fascinating account in the Times of the initial idea for the presentation of the Coronation Stone.
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