Witham Town Defences

Has been described as a Possible Urban Defence

There are uncertain remains

NameWitham Town Defences
Alternative NamesWulvesford; Withambury; Burgate Field; Rivenhall End; Chippinghill; Clipping Hill Camp
Historic CountryEssex
Modern AuthorityEssex
1974 AuthorityEssex
Civil ParishWitham

Witham burh was founded by Edward the elder in 912. Three sites have been suggested as the site: Chipping Hill Camp (TL819151); Wulvesford (TL821142); Burgate Field (Rivenhall End, TL838164). The first has long been associated with the site of the burh, but recent research suggests it is the least likely location. Wulvesford is a curvilinear enclosure which enclosed the Mediaeval town created by the Knight's Templars. It enclosed 27 hectares. Strategically it is a better candidate than Chipping Hill Camp, since it lies across London-Colchester Road. The location makes sense as an offensive earthwork of the campaign of 912, but it is clear that if ever it was intended to become an urban centre, it failed. Burgate Field is a rectangular enclosure adjacent to the London-Colchester Roman Road, enclosing 18 hectares. It is suggested that this was the intended site of the urban centre, which for unknown reasons failed, and probably soon after it was laid out since Witham never had a mint, unlike most of the burhs which were extant in Athelstan's reign (925-39). (PastScape)

A.D. 913: After this, in the summer, betwixt gangdays and midsummer, went King Edward with some of his force into Essex, to Maldon; and encamped there the while that men built and fortified the town of Witham. (ASC)

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL821142
Latitude51.7964706420898
Longitude0.638580024242401
Eastings582100
Northings214200
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 2013, Medieval Walled Towns (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 157 (mention)
  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 264
  • Medlycott, M., 1999, Witham Historic Town Assessment Report
  • Rodwell, Warwick, 1993, The origins and early development of Witham, Essex: a study in settlement and fortification, prehistoric to medieval (Oxbow monographs 26) p. 46-8, 76-82
  • Bond, C.J., 1987, 'Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Defences' in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds) Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report 61) p. 92-116 online copy
  • Petchey, M.R., 1980, 'The archaeology of medieval Essex towns' in Buckley, D.G. (ed), Archaeology in Essex to AD 1500 (CBA Research Report 34) p. 113-17 online copy
  • Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p. 138
  • Gould, Chalkley, 1903, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Doubleday, Arthur and Page, Wm (eds), VCH Essex Vol. 1 p. 288-9 online copy

Journals

  • Creighton, Oliver, 2006, ''Castles of Communities': Medieval Town Defences in England; Wales and Gascony' Château Gaillard Vol. 22 p. 75-86
  • Spurrell, F.C.J., 1887, 'Withambury' Essex Naturalist Vol. 1 p. 19-22 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Ingram, James, (ed) 1912, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Everyman Press, London) AD913 view online transcription (Ingram's translation and notes date from 1823. More recent translations of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles should be consulted for serious study)

Other

  • 1999, Witham Historic Town Assessment Report (Essex County Council) Download copy