File:The counties of England, their story and antiquities (1912) (14764555972).jpg

Identifier: countiesofenglan01ditc (find matches)
Title: The counties of England, their story and antiquities
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Ditchfield, P. H. (Peter Hampson), 1854-1930
Subjects: Great Britain -- History England -- Antiquities
Publisher: London : G. Allen
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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t, which were evidentlyrelics of some such struggle. In the year 896 the invaders were again in this partof the country. Having been obliged to abandon theirships on the Lea near London, by the defences whichKing Alfred had erected between them and the sea, theymade their way again across the kmgdom. They wentoverland, the Chronicle tells us, until they arrived atOuatbridge on the Severn, and there wrought a work —that is, constructed a fort. They then sat that winterat Bridge. There is no difficulty in identifying theseplaces. Bridge is Bridgnorth, which has near it thevillage of Quatford, and the occurrence is still furtherperpetuated by the name Danesf ord on the riveritself. The invaders, however, had no opportunity ofeffecting permanent settlements. Ethered, whom Alfredhad made earldorman of Mercia, kept a vigilant watchon behalf of the king, and in this he was ably secondedby his wife, Ethelfleda, who was the kings daughter..She survived her husband some years, but the defence
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^ North gate BRIDGNORTH X M.R. Vol. I. 290 Shropshire of her territory did not suffer by his death. She erectedfortresses at Bridgnorth and Chirbury, and under thetitle Lady of the Mercians won wide regard. Shewas, traditionally, the founder of the church dedicatedto St. Alkmund in the county town. The best proof, however, of the statement that theDanish invasion left no impress on the county is tobe found in a study of the place-names. There is anentire absence of names ending in by and thorpeand thwaite, for example, with which we are so familiarin the north and east of England. Danish blood hascontributed nothing to the making of the Salopiancharacter. II.—Norman. In 1066 came the Norman invasion under William theConqueror. It had been already prepared for by theweak rule of Edward the Confessor, who had largelygiven himself over to Norman influence, and in whosereign the Norman Richard FitzScrob had erected a castleon the southern border of this county, which was acentre of oppr

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