A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK 



As a maritime county Suffolk, was exposed to the inroads of the Norse- 

 men, and the opposing ramparts of these two peoples were doubtless 

 numerous ; but again the arable nature of the ground must be held responsible 

 for the lack of their militant handiwork. 



When peace was attained by King Alfred East Anglia was included in 

 that portion of territory allotted to the Danes. To the presence of these 

 settlers may be traced the ship-barrow in the parish of Snape, a great earthen 

 monument which has recently been destroyed. 



One class only of early fortified positions is adequately represented, that 

 is the mount and bailey, which perhaps provided the most stupendous arti- 

 ficial works in Suffolk, and thus has better escaped the levelling process. 

 Of this type Haughley is the best preserved and a good example, while Clare 

 is the most stupendous. 



Advancing to a later period of the Middle Ages we find a few examples 

 of a defended residence which represent a transitional type, between the feudal 

 castle and the simple moated inclosure. Rushbrooke, Wingfield, and Helm- 

 ingham may be cited, inasmuch as the last two retain mementos of an 

 ancient custom in the preservation and utilization of their drawbridges. 



As in most low-lying districts simple moated areas abound, and in this 

 respect Suffolk is especially remarkable with over five hundred examples. A 

 noteworthy feature is that in West Suffolk the moats generally surround the 

 houses of great families, as of the Drurys of Hawstead; the Tollemaches of 

 Helmingham and Fakenham ; the De la Poles of Wingfield, and many 

 others; while those of East Suffolk protected the more modest halls and farm- 

 steads. 



Many sites have remains of extensive grouping of moats, as at Braiseworth 

 Hall, Tannington, and Kenton Hall. Others have double moats, one withjn 

 the other, the smaller around the house and the larger including the sur- 

 rounding grounds, of which Gisleham is a perfect example. 



Within the confines of this county churches have been cinctured by 

 moats, Gedding, South Elmham All Saints, and Wattisham. Religious 

 houses have also been protected by similar defences from marauders ; 

 the moat around the great abbey of St. Edmund at Bury has been filled^ 

 but fragments of moats may yet be traced at the monastic establishments at 

 Wingfield, Hoxne, Bricett, Bruisyard, Flixton, Redlingfield, and Rumburgh. 

 Among the miscellaneous works the purpose of one has as yet baffled 

 all antiquaries. The ' Warbanks ' have been attributed to various races, and 

 among the different theories expressed are those suggesting them to be the 

 site of a Roman camp and a disused water-course ; the latter may at once 

 be dismissed, but whatever their object it is evident that these trenches pro- 

 vided a defence for a large irregular area. 



Tumuli are numerous, yet again, considering the nature of the ground 

 on which they were raised, they are probably but a small fraction of those 

 formerly existing, and these are fast being levelled. Barrows distinctive of 

 each of the four earlier nationalities inhabiting the county have been ex- 

 plored and destroyed. A feature in the East Anglian barrows is the number 

 that were known to be used for the holding of ' Things,' as Hills of Judicature, 

 and in the retention of the name of that on which the people of Bury 

 assembled in the Hundred of Thingoe. 



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