This sounds rather like the common antiquarian tradition of trying to fit a documentary reference to the closest large earthwork.  There are of course hundreds of spurious references to Danes Camps etc such as at Hunsbury hill fort/Danes Camp near Northampton.  Interesting though if there aren't any definite sites.  Attempting to distinguish between Saxon and Danish burh defences is of course fraught with difficulty given the short time span.  Just goes to show how difficult it is to actually prove anything.
 
 
Mike Shaw
 
 
 
 
________________________________

From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records on behalf of CARLISLE, Philip
Sent: Thu 18/10/2007 11:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Scandinavian Fortifications in the UK



Hi all,

Frank Stenton mentions Danish fortifications in Tempsford in Bedford (not too far from Stamford) and the scheduled monument description for Gannocks Castle states that the site is believed to be that of the fortress mentioned in the AS Chronicles see below.

"The monument includes the remains of the Medieval moated enclosure of Gannocks Castle
The moated site is rectangular in form measuring some 65m
by 55m including the 10m wide surrounding moat. The moat is some 2.5m deep
and water-filled along its northern arm. Entrance to the interior is
provided by a slight causeway at the north-east corner. A substantial inner
bank or rampart is visible around the edge of the island on all but the east
side. A small mound measuring 7m across is located at the north-east corner
of the island and may be the location of a defensive building or structure
opposite the entrance. A low bank is evident along the outer eastern edge of
the moat although its central section is only barely visible.
The site is believed to be built on the same spot as an earlier Danish
Fortress referred to in the Anglo-Saxon chronicle as being constructed in
921 AD and captured later that year by Edward the Elder."


Phil

Phil Carlisle
Data Standards Supervisor
English Heritage
National Monuments Record Centre
Kemble Drive
Swindon
SN2 2GZ
+44 (0)1793 414824

http://thesaurus.english-heritage.org.uk/


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P Please do not print this e-mail unless you really need to


-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris Wardle
Sent: 18 October 2007 10:24
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Scandinavian Fortifications in the UK

A very open question for which I sure there is no certain answer: You might look to see if there's any evidence that the burh defences at York and the five boroughs might not have been Saxon. There's no such evidence at Leicester. More generally you might try the Heritage Gateway, but don't get your hopes too high!

As for Repton it's still not published, but I believe Biddle changed his view about a "'D'-shaped Danish enclosure" and concluded that the large ditch and boat dock were the remains of a Norman castle next to the Trent, and which was flattened after the Stephen/Matilda civil war. 

Chris Wardle
City Archaeologist
Planning Policy & Design
Leicester City Council
Block A
New Walk Centre
Welford Place
Leicester. LE1 6ZR
0116 2527282
[log in to unmask]

>>> David Evans <[log in to unmask]> 18/10/2007 08:49:36 >>>
This is going to sound like one of those annoying student requests - so
here goes.

I know of a number of documentary references to Scandinavian (I expect
we are not allowed to call them Viking anymore) fortifications in
C10-11UK, however apart from the dubious case of Repton, does anyone
know of any certain examples, another Aggersborg would be nice!



David Evans

Historic Environment Record Officer

Planning and Environment

South Gloucestershire Council

Civic Centre

High Street

Kingswood

BS15 9TR

Phone: 01454 863649

fax:       01454 865173




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