Thetford

Thetford grew to importance soon after the Viking invasions of the later 9th century due to its location. It lies on a major routeway into Norfolk at an important river crossing. It straddles the Norfolk/Suffolk border with the bulk of the town on the Suffolk side.

In 865 the Viking Great Army arrived and overwintered at Thetford. After travelling around England they returned in 870 and fought a 3 day battle against the Anglian forces of Edmund. Following their victory the army chose to overwinter in Thetford.

By the first half of the 10th century Thetford was probably larger than Norwich. In the years immediatly after 1000 there was probably little to choose between them in size or importance.

Thetford was burned down twice within the decade following 1004.

By 1066 Thetford ranked 6th in size amongst English towns. 943 burgesses (freeholders of the town) are recorded in the Domesday book for 1066, giving a population of about 4,000. The population dropped significantly after the conquest. Despite this decline in population it was still only second to Norwich in East Anglia in terms of size, and was equally important as it was the ecclesiastical centre of the region.