Burh

Any Anglo-Saxon stronghold or fortification; a term used for the defended settlements built by King Alfred of Wessex as a system of defense in the 9th century (known as the burghal system). Threatened by Viking (Danish) incursions, Alfred (and later his successors) built small fortified towns where the population could take refuge when threatened. Excavations in many burhs, such as Wareham, Tamworth, Wallingford, Devon, Bury, and Cricklade, show wide palisaded bank and v-shaped ditch with turf and timber revetments. Many of the burhs were also developed as market towns and gridded streets were laid out within a number of them.

A small fortified town, found in later Anglo-Saxon England, where the population could take refuge during times of threat. Burhs were established as a national system of defence in the later 9th century by King Alfred of Wessex in response to the persistent threat of Viking incursions. This defensive system is known as the burghal system. Excavations in many burhs, such as Wareham, Tamworth, Wallingford and Cricklade, have revealed that the initial burghal defences consisted of a wide palisaded bank and v-shaped ditch with turf and timber revetments. Many of these burhs were also developed as market towns and gridded streets were laid out within a number of them. These centres became the foci of the 10th-century urban revival in Anglo-Saxon England.