Page:History of Norfolk 1.djvu/537

 ATLEBURGH===

This place without doubt hath been very famous in early times, as all authors, that speak of it, unanimously agree. If we may believe John Brame, a monk of Thetford, whose history is extant in Bennet College Library at Cambridge, it was some time not only a city, but the metropolis of all Norfolk, founded by Atlinge, then King of that province, in order to oppose Rond, King of Theodford, and by him fortified with a ditch, wall, four gates, and four towers; and from this Atlinge he would have it called Atlinge's Burgh, or Atleburgh; but as to that part, of its towers and gates, I cannot be persuaded to credit it, there being no appearance or remains of any such walls, gates, or towers, as he speaks of, in this town, some parts of which, in all likelihood, would have remained, as well as those of other buildings, far older than these, it being unlikely that in the Danish incursions they could have time or materials to rear them up. Mr. Le Neve imagines that it was called Ethelingburgh, because it might belong in the time of the Saxons to some eminent nobleman of that name, who was nearly related to the Saxon kings, and had his residence here, being induced to think thus, because this part belonged to the Crown till the Conqueror's time. But neither of these etymologies seem right, and therefore, if I may have liberty of conjecture, I think the present name shews its signification, which, it will be proper to observe, hath suffered but little change from the time of the Confessor to this day, Atleburc, Burg, or Burgh, is the same, and it being certain that the termination burgh, or borough (as we now pronounce it) always signifies a castle, fort, or such like, as the learned Spelman in his Icenia justly observes, we may conclude that it was called At-le-Burgh, or the town at the burgh, or burgh-town, from its being situated by an ancient burgh or fortification, and from its being larger, and of more repute at that time, than its neighbours. That this burgh was a fortification of hills only, is plain, because there are no other remains, and therefore most likely was made at the time when the Danes ravaged this part of the country, and so far the old monk may be right; that when they got possession of Thetford, it is not unlikely the inhabitants of the country might assemble and fortify themselves here in opposition to their enemies, who had done the same there; and indeed I take it, that this burgh was the head of the hundred, till the neighbouring castle of Bukenham was built, after the removal of the chief of the inhabitants from it, to the present situation of the town, which is far better than its old one at the Burgh. And as a further confirmation, the Burgh is not only now called Burgh, or Burrough Street, but in Domesday, that