King Offa of Mercia
King Offa of Mercia, 757 AD became the most powerful of all Saxon rulers. He is also known as King of all the English.
He erected a palace in Tamworth so magnificent in style and furnishings, that it was declared to be ‘the wonder of the age’.
In 799 AD he fortified the town with a huge earthwork – a wall and a ditch – resting on the rivers Tame and Anker and encircling the town. This is known as Offa’s Dyke.
Charters were granted by Offa from the palace at Tamworth. Offa spent Christmas at Tamworth in 781 AD.
He had links with the famous King Charlemagne, exchanging letters and gifts and he established trading connections as far as Arabia.
There is still the unanswered question as to why he killed so many of his relatives following his victory at the Battle of Seckington.
In the late 8th century the first watermill was constructed in Tamworth.