The Burghal Hidage (early 10th century) is a list of boroughs giving the hide assessments of neighbouring districts which were liable to contribute to the defence of the borough, each contributing to the maintenance and manning of the fortifications in proportion to the number of hides for which they answered.

The purpose was primarily to provide defence for a port or town, and the surrounding farms, villages and hamlets. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Alfred constructed a series of burhs, listed in the Burghal Hidage numbering over 30. Apparently, it was Alfred's intention that no English farm or village be any more than 20 miles (32 km ...

Other burhs of the Burghal Hidage were also strengthened with stone walls, which suggests this was part of a systematic upgrade of the defensive provisions for Wessex, ordered by the king. [6] The third phase is marked by systematic razing of the stone wall, which was pulled down over the inner berm (the space between the wall and the inner ditch).

Alfred (Ælfrēd en vieil anglais), né en 848 ou 849 et mort le 26 octobre 899, est roi du Wessex de 871 à sa mort, et roi de tous les Anglo-Saxons à partir de 878, sans jamais contrôler la totalité du territoire anglais.Quatrième fils du roi Æthelwulf, il succède à son frère Æthelred en tant que roi du Wessex en 871.. Alfred est célèbre pour avoir organisé la défense du royaume ...

このような体制の内容は「Burghal Hidage」という10世紀の書物に記録として残されており、それによるとウェセックス王国に33の駐屯地があり、安全な場所から馬に一日乗った距離以内に …