A COIN FROM CRICKLADE DISCOVERING A NEW MINT OF HENRY I

trategically placed where the old Roman Ermine Street crosses the river, Cricklade is first recorded in the so-called Burghal Hidage of the early 10th century. Following his victories against the Danes in 878-879, King Alfred the Great instituted an intricate system of ‘Burghs’ across southern England; small forts or fortified garrison towns spaced every thirty miles or so to which rural communities could retreat in case of attack. These also provided a regional strong-point from which local English forces could flexibly co-ordinate counter measures. Although the Burghal Hidage dates to after the reign of Alfred, it lists pre-existing ‘Burghs’ created under his auspices. Many ‘Burghs’ were prominent regional centres, economic as well as military strongholds that were valuable to the infrastructure of both Alfred’s kingdom and the rulers that followed him. Today, the site’s Anglo-Saxon roots are visible only in the humps and bumps of the original burgh earthworks