Thetford Castle - Iron Age, Danish and Norman

Thetford Castle is by origin an Icenian Iron Age Fort dating from c500BC, and their tribal centre in this area and the fords that carry the Icknield Way across the Little Ouse. The Iron Age ring bank and ditch can be seen on the right of this picture.

It was occupied by the Danish Great Army in the Autumn of 869 as their base, which is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This Great Army, led by the Ragnarrsons defeated and killed St Edmund King of East Anglia on 20th November 869.

When the Conqueror arrived in East Anglia, Thetford was the second largest town in the area. Two castles were constructed to dominate this strategic site. The first was built in the Saxon town.

The second castle was constructed here, with at its heart the massive motte at the centre of this blip. This was set in heart of the old Iron Age Fort - probably 1500 years old by this time.

The motte is 22m (or 72 feet) high from the bottom of the ditch to its top, and would have had a wooden Keep on its summit. This is the second largest man-made mound in the country.

Probably constructed by Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, it has been calcuated that 24,000 man days of effort were required to construct the motte from chalk. Presumably the Normans employed pressed Saxons from the Town of Thetford and surrounding area.

Thetford along with the other Bigod castles of Framlingham and Bungay were the centre of Hugh Bigod's power in the Anarchy of King Stephen's reign. When Henry II took power he confiscated Thetford Castle for Royal use. Hugh Bigod joined Henry II's sons (Richard, Geoffrey and John) in revolt and recaptured Thetford Castle. However in 1173 Henry II's forces recaptured the castle and destroyed the fortifications - the massive motte remained.