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Town Defences at Redcastle Furze, Thetford
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Saxon Defence Bank at Redcastle Furze, Thetford.
Thetford is surrounded by several large housing estates, including Abbey Farm, Pine Close, Redcastle Furze, Newtown, and Ladys Estates. Most of this housing was built between the late 1950s and mid 1970s, with support from the London authorities during the Town Development scheme, during which thousands of people moved from London to Thetford in Norfolk. Thetford actually grew at a faster rate between the 1961 and 1971 census than any similar sized town in England and Wales, as a result of this rapid expansion.
The tree covered earth bank shown running through the middle of the Redcastle Furze estate in this photo is part of the remains of a Late Saxon earthwork, that formed a southern defensive bank and ditch system, built and used during the 10th century. Thetford was an important Anglo-Danish settlement, perhaps the fifth largest town in England and Wales at that time.
