14 



similar one at Tamworth, on the confines of the counties of 

 Warwick and Tamworth. The Tower and the place of 

 market is in the county of Warwick, and the Church in the 

 county of Stafford, " Dugdale follows Rous, but makes out 

 that ^thelfleda repaired the ruins of the fortress destroyed 

 by the Danes, and erected a dongon on the hill of earth 

 artifically made. 



We have but little written evidence as to the size and 

 importance of Warwick prior to the eleventh century. We 

 know but little of its probable extent, or the mode in which 

 the "hagas," dwellings and houses were fortified. In a 

 charter of King Ethelred (a.d, 1001), (Kemble, No. 705, 

 vol. iii, p. 316) he grants the Manor of Yceantun (Long 

 Itchington) to Clofia, and " one haga in Warwic belonging 

 to Yceantun." In a charter dated 1016, we find another 

 " haga " in Warwick belonging to the manor of Biscopesdune 

 (Kemble, 724, vol. iii., p. 366), granted by Bishop Leofsinus 

 to one Godricus. These charters are evidences of the 

 importance of Warwick at an early period. We may fairly 

 assume that these " hagas " were not simple dwellings, but 

 were "house-places" holding within an enclosure, dwell- 

 ings for the lord, his bailiff, and servants, and labourers. 

 Warwick was of such importance that it became the county 

 town, and the shire was named after it. We have no means 

 of knowing the exact date when the counties were named 

 and their boundaries defined, but there is some evidence, slight 

 though it may be, that the Avon was the county boundary 

 prior to the building of the "burh" at Warwick by 

 ^thelfleda. In a Chartulary of Evesham preserved amongst 

 the HarleianMSS. (3763, fol. 60), which is given in»KembIe 

 (Codex Diplomaticus No. 72) is that Caolred, son of Ethelred 

 in the 3rd year of his reign, grants to the Church at ^t 



