From Runes to Ruins // Anglo-Saxon History Documentary 

I paid for this film a few years ago - I was happy to support it and the filmmaker financially. Good call on uploading it onto RU-vid for free. It’s a good documentary and deserves to reach a wider audience

At a time when Britain's heritage seems to be under attack from every direction, documentaries like this are really important. Fantastic work and thanks for sharing.

From an American of English descent whose family has been over here for 350 years-keep up the good work, cousin.

Watching this documentary for the first time. Absolutely brilliant. Beautiful, real. The shop owner speaking about how people are being drawn to Viking age Germanic culture due to people wanting more than facebook, the internet and decadence was so wonderful and true. Some of us want our roots back, we want to be reconnected with our ancestors and their culture because it was meaningful and real. Just amazing. Great documentary, I loved it.

Tom Roswell is a seriously important asset. Incorruptible in the face of the pressures that would leave all humanity without any understanding of who they are and from where they came. he is our shield. Hail Woden

When you talk about the Ash Rune being found on a sword you can also consider how Ash is viewed in the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem: "The ash is very tall, dear to men, stout in its trunk, its hilt is rightfully fixed, although it fights against many men."

This is probably the most hopeful and encouraging thing ive watched in a long time. Fantasic work as always cant wait for more.

I haven’t a single drop of Anglo-Saxon blood in my body, and yet I am so proud to live in a Nation whose traditions largely descend from these people. The Constitution of the United States is often assumed to be based off of the Roman system due to the usage of the word “Senate,” but in University I explored its origins in both Indigenous American (Iroquois) governance and, obviously, English governance. But beyond that, I traced the most important foundational structures, both political and cultural, from the Anglo-Saxons and even to Germanic systems such as the Moot/Thing. When Christianity came, the Saxons did not meekly surrender their traditions, they adopted whatever was practical and carried on with a majority of their culture. When the Normans came and imposed their will, the Barons fought back and restored their ancient rights in the Magna Carta. When Charles imposed his will on the English people, his head was taken, as was Cromwell’s (posthumously) when he crossed similar lines. Our American founding fathers; Washington, Adams, Jefferson - they were the Earls and Carls of their age, restoring their ancient traditions and privileges that were challenged by King George. I am not a Saxon by blood, I am a Saxon by language, tradition, and philosophy. I am a Saxon because I, and I alone, can choose how to live my life, and have the right to never concede my beliefs, what I believe is right, to anyone, a luxury my ancestors never received in their homelands. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the people who would create England. May they never be forgotten.

The contemporary war against the Saxon might not be being waged on the battlefield, but it's a war nonetheless. This documentary feels like a timely reminder of the strength (and beauty!) that lies in our blood, faith and heritage. Thanks for uploading, StJ. Stirring stuff.

More important now, than ever.

Very well-made documentary about an interesting topic, which is sadly overlooked by modern media. Becoming a patron was definitely a god choice!

Excellent video Tom. In Wednesbury a local High School is called Wodensborogh, and we also have The Woden Pub. Good to see some traditions are still being kept alive, albeit in a small way. I have heard the site which is now Saint Bartholomew's Church, used to be a place of worship to Woden. Keep up the good work.

Honestly this is the kind of content I want to see, not politically angry, not boringly laid out facts, just a well researched interesting documentary

I rented this a while ago, so glad it’s readily available, so atmospheric, although I already live and breathe this era, this gives me goosebumps at the The thought of or forebears

I’m finally in a position to donate. Love this channel and will start donating.

I hadn’t realised that this was available Tom, otherwise I’d have happily paid in order to watch. I obviously wasn’t paying enough attention

Superb! In this age of darkness and ignorance, your films shine a light on our shared past and illuminate the present. I've been enriched by many of your videos and hope you'll continue to provide such excellent uploads in the future. They're a light in the darkness and banality of the modern world, friend. Health to you and yours!

Odličan dokumentarac, vjerojatno najbolji za poviest Englezkog naroda. Hvala Tome! 🇬🇧 pozdrav iz Hrvatske 🇭🇷

So well done that when it opened I looked out the window to see what the birds were up to. Beautiful job in all respects. Thank you for sharing.

From the North American diaspora, thank you so much Thomas!🙏🏻❤️

I remember when I first came across this documentary in a small online study group. My life has changed so much, thank you for everything you do Mr. Rowsell.

HUGE HUGE HUGE thanks for uploading this on RU-vid. Love and support from Persia. I'm promoting your work here in the Middle-East. Very good and accurate and informative channel. Thanks for all the hard work you've put into this documentary and your channel. Can't appreciate it enough

What you said in last minute gave me goose bumps and chills for 10 seconds. Amazing! All of your work, amazing! Glad to be your new Patreon!

I'm busy but I'll watch later, just wanted to smash like & comment. Keep fighting the good fight on the historical front my brother. Greetings from a degenerate NYC

Try spot the sneaky fox

Well done, a first rate documentary. I must admit I feel a deep connection to this; though I'm not religious, it defines my heritage.

I've been extremely blessed these past few weeks... firstly I stumble across Standing with Stones... which was outstanding and now this, which is even more so!

I envy you in an interesting way. I am Russian, yet I was born and raised far away from the ancestral lands not only of my nation, but Slavs and even Aryans in general. I mean I know some of them got as far as Tarim basin, but none got to Far East, well, until the russian cossacks did. Being born there I had no connection to the land, it wasn't our ancestral land. That one is somewhere around Ukraine, Byelorussia and the Western Russia. Seeing you talking about the ancient history of your town fills me with a kind of a strange feeling of envy for something I can never have. Probably it is the position those born in colonial territories find themselves in. Anyway, very nice work, enjoyed it a lot. Keep it up.

Thanks for the amazing content as usual, will be sharing this with my grandma who i share a historical interest with of pagan medieval Europe. She needs some extra material besides books during the epidemic cheers :)

A beautiful, important and deeply moving documentary, thank you.

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this film! Thank you for this Thomas.

Bought this and watched it with the mannerbund years ago. I'm stoked to watch it again! Thanks Tom!

46:18 - I wonder if he had any clue that fox crept behind him like that! Wonderful documentary.

I never got a notification for this.

The most chill time you can have while learning.

I can't tell how much i enjoy your work.

Our people are waking up and this video is certainly the kindling needed to fuel the flames of our culture, beliefs, and heritage. Rise as one and stand against the tide.

Thankyou for this beautiful film, the lighting is so soft. I think it’s true that people crave spirituality more and feel the tug of our past, nature and the land.

What a great documentary! Thank you for uploading this to RU-vid. As a member of the Wisconsin Historical Fencing Association (a HEMA club in Wisconsin, USA) it was really cool to see the London Longsword group make an appearance. Well done!

Awesome work! Always learn alot from this channel.

We need to start popularising the wearing of Anglo-Saxon tunics as the official national/folk dress of the English. It would be so cool to see people taking pride in their heritage and to finally see an official folk dress to share with the world. Anyone else?

When it started with 80s sounding, fantasy movie synth music I knew I was gonna watch the whole video!

Every Englishman is a descendent of Alfred The Great, and therefore a descendent of Woden. Keep your heads, you'll be called on in the coming decade.

I rented this last year and loved it. So glad it's available to watch for free now. Thanks, Tom! :)

The work you do is so important. Please don’t ever stop

My compliments on this documentary, it is very professional. I am impressed.

As a Welshman of Anglo-Celtic descent, keep the work brother

That was fantastic, I started watching thinking I’d watch maybe 10 mins of this documentary. I ended up watching the entire thing. Thanks so much

Great stuff! You have a great reading of Old English. You should do more programs where you read old texts.

Love how they insisted in whipping out their "Fighters Against Racism" shirts for the filming 11:34

Why are so many HEMA practitioners “anti-racist” bugmen? It’s an odd phenomenon I’ve noticed...

Loved it. Last year i asked you to review Troll which talks about pre Christian Oslo. I would be glad to watch it.

Brilliant work! My kids watch these videos with me. I see it as heritage education.

This video does not show up in my subscription feed...strange.

Wonderful, and a much needed bit of encouragement

Looking good, Thomas, loving the casual look

Reading about the Staffordshire Hoard-terrific history information about my people the Anglo-Saxons.Great video this!

Rented it twice last year, really pleased to see this drop into my emails.

Really really great stuff, Tom. Been binging your channel, you are criminally underappreciated. Trying to spread the word of your channel.

"They regard cultural traditions as chains, obstacles to the unity of global humanity." And that is what Christianity was designed to be, globalism and assimilation.

This video has made me think. I first liked it for the history lesson but noticed the T-Shirts of the Longsword School. It made me think some more about other, more current things and how it relates to where my ancestors came from. From that, I can say that it is a shame that one business that derives it's very essence from European heritage and from European's own past struggles must today feel the need to virtue signal over a modern political agenda veiled in another culture's past struggles in order to continue to keep their business safe from that other culture's current retribution if they do not show such homage to them. The school can say whatever they like but, I think with the current times and fact that any business in many cities that does not bow to the "European culture today=Racism today" will get boycotted, harassed, burnt or shut down in some way without some form of placating statement or donation given to the supposed "currently oppressed" that it is obvious to discern the primary intent of the T-shirt. So, if modern Christianity and modern political liberalism has driven those of European heritage in a form of self-flagellation to the extent of having to label their ancestors, their children and theirselves a racist just to appease certain groups of modern people that want to enforce their culture upon the West via false victimhood yet then to insist their culture is being appropriated to the point I must pay them for my daughter's hairstyle... If the modern lawmakers of same heritage profess to be good Christians and good neighbors go on to make laws giving educational, financial, work and social care with our tax money to all groups but those of European ancestry or any other group they deem "ancestrally privileged" (but not currently factually & legally) then.... I will freely give up modern Christianity and politics in favor older forms of faith that produce leaders more in favor of their own people than appeasing the fake modern victimhood of another group that threatens to destroy my children's future heritage and culture in favor of their own. No Apologies to nor further discussion with, modern priests, politicians and other cultures required. Their zealots can go sell their ideological T-shirts to some other people, blaming someone else, somewhere else.

Great documentary. Much thanks. 👌👌👌

How many times have I watched this? I love it. This is my favorite channel to date. I find your work to be life affirming.

My family, multiple generations, as well as myself, grew up in Walthamstow. It was surprisingly nice to see it here today.

Great Doc....I shall now go listen to the whole Hammerheart album to complete the experience...thank you

Thanks so much for putting this up on a free viewing platform. Most entertaining and educational. I love the fox (?) @46.18!

Great stuff! I love hearing about this folklore! Thanks for keeping it alive and available.

Brilliant work, the soul is still ignited!

Eald Englisc sounds much better than its modern counterpart!

It must be my birthday! Oh wait it is hah! I rented this early on in lockdown, it is excellent!

To be sure, our blood is our home. I love my kin, I love my volk. Hail, ancestors. Hail, Allfather.

Thanx for this, made my day :) Gareth /Uppsala

A great film, glad to see your quality is constant.

I paid for and watched this when you released it. Great documentary. I showed it to a friend at the time and he was impressed as well.

Only partially through the video. There has been a lot of talk in certain Heathen circles about you being “racist” and thus not reputable. Aside from that not being logically sound, you’re literally featuring a group of people in shirts saying “Fighters Against Racism.” And the first two videos I’ve watched of yours were on Anglo-Saxon Paganism. Strictly scholarly, well-researched, expertly presented, and very Indo-European. Loving your content so far.

26:00 The British ash tree eradicated by unchecked imports via Europe, doesn't that sound like the British people because being eradicated by unchecked imports via Europe?

proud Saxon brothers ❤🇩🇪🇬🇧

That was a really good documentary. I wish I hadn't waited so long to watch it.

ohh neat I really enjoyed that.

Beautiful video. My new favorite documentary. Your contributions to our people and culture will be long remembered Tom. Thank you for this work of art.

Beautiful, and dare I say, very indo european.

Don't fight fascism, fight against anti-whiteism. Go free brothers and sisters!

Thanks for posting it for us. Been wanting to watch it. Appreciate your work.

Well done you cleaned up very nicely and have presented a story I watch more than once.

A particularly decent documentary. 10/10 👍

This is really, really high quality!

Tom, thanks for uploading this. It's rare that I find something so inspiring online that literally influences and enriches my views. I'm glad Hertha blessed your video with a furry friend.

too bad about the blackbars when watching on ultrawide screen. Brillian documentary!

He loves the Hindu (rebirth) concept. I find this fitting due to the true origins of Hinduism and Buddhism.

The presenter has a future in 1970s open university TV programmes. Just missing the natty v neck sweater. Interesting documentary all the same!

This video didn't showed up in my subscription feed for some reason. It did showed in my suggestions though

Good work, thank you very much. From one of your Cornish subscribers: 'let bygones be bygones.' BTW I did my teaching prac at the Downs School circa1990-1, it is a beautiful area.

Very important documentary.

Rented this way back. Looking forward to a rewatch

The Fox that ran in the background was beautiful

So glad i found this! Thankyou Tom ❤

Fighters Against Racism? Racism simply means that you love your People more than their people.

Survive the jive, would you be interested in talking about the importance of statues and how they relate to one’s culture and the individuals in that society? Ik it’s a politically relevant one, which is 50% of why I’m asking you because it’s a very unpopular thing to remove them, but also why they are important to the vast majority of people in the first place.

11:48 Omg what a cringe t-shirt

Great episode.. the synthwave is a nice touch