The Burhs listed in the Burghal Hidage were as follows |
Eorpeburnan | | 324 hides |
Eorpburnan actually spelt 'eorþ burnan' means the 'earthy stream' |
Most likely location is modern Orpington which means 'the earth fort on the
hill' |
a second alternative is modern Hadlow Down which derives from 'hæƿ hleow dun' and
translates to 'the heath refuge on the hill' |
Hastings | | 500 hides |
The fort was probably at 'Baldslow down' which derives from 'baels hleow dun' meaning
'the fire refuge on the hill' |
Lewes | | 1300 hides |
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probably located on mount caburn - Lewes derives from 'hleow aes' which translates to
the 'refuge by the river' |
Burpham | | 720 hides |
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Burpham from 'burþ ham' which translates to 'the fortress settlement in the
valley' |
Chichester | | 1500 hides |
Chichester derives from 'chyee ceaster' which translates to 'the roman fortress of the
Crows' |
Portchester | | 500 hides |
Portchester derives from 'port ceaster' which translates to 'the roman fortress with the
harbour' |
Southampton | | 150 hides |
Southampton derives from 'suþ þam tun' which translates to 'the southern wet place on
the hill' |
Winchester | | 2400 hides |
Winchester derives from 'win ceaster' which translates to 'the roman fortress of the
wine' |
Wilton | | 1400 hides |
The most likely location for this fort was at 'Old Sarum' the old Roman fort on the
junction of two major Roman roads |
Chisbury | | 700 hides |
The most likely location for this fort was at 'Chisbury Camp' an old Iron Age
fort |
Shaftesbury | | 700 hides |
The most likely location for this fort was at 'Shaftesbury Castle' an old Iron Age
fort |
Twynam (now called Christchurch, Dorset) | | 470 hides |
The most likely location for this fort was on 'St Catherines Hill' an old Roman
signalling station |
Wareham | | 1600 hides |
The most likely location for this fort was in Wareham itself |
Bridport | | 760 hides |
probably located on Sloes Hill which is likely to be derived from 'eas hloes hyll' which
translates to the 'riverside refuge on the hill' |
Exeter | | 734 hides |
The most likely location for this fort was the Roman fort in Exeter(Isca) |
Halwell | | 300 hides |
The most likely location for this fort was the hill fort at Stanborough
Camp |
Lydford | | 140 hides |
The most likely location for this fort a fort at Lydford |
Pilton | | 360 hides |
The most likely location was an old iron age fort called Roborough Castle who's name
could have derived from the Saxon 'hleow borough' meaning the 'old roman fort refuge' |
Watchet | | 513 hides |
The most likely location was an old iron age fort called Dawes Castle |
Axbridge | | 400 hides |
The fort was probably on 'Callow Hill' which derives from 'Cal hleow Hyll' meaning
'cabbage refuge hill' |
Lyng | | 100 hides |
This location is near Athelney where Alfred the Great fled in 878AD this small fort is
most likely located on Athelney Hill - Athelney derives from the Saxon 'aþ(pronounced ath) el' - an oath taker(someone
who has taken the kings oath - royal family) ney derived from 'en æg' - the island people |
Langport | | 600 hides |
Meaning the long port as the sea reached here in the times of Wessex. The fort was most
likely to be found in the location of Combe quarry but any evidence would be long since removed. |
Bath | | 1000 hides |
Malmesbury | | 1200 hides |
Cricklade | | 1500 hides |
Oxford | | 1400 hides |
Wallingford | | 2400 hides |
Buckingham | | 1600 hides |
Sashes | | 1000 hides |
Eashing | | 600 hides |
Southwark | | 1800 hides |
Worcester | | 1200 hides |
Warwick | | 2400 hides |