Page 17 - Alfred the Great And His Legacy

Reason Three: Building Burhs

• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 886 describes Alfred as
occupying Lunden burg (London). He delegated control to
Aethred, ruler of Mercia,who later married his daughter

Aethelflaed.

• As London was on the border between the territories of
the Anglo-Saxons & Danes, Alfred began strengthening

London’s fortifications.

• He allotted grants of lands to each of the main
clergymen of London & granted the rights to land boats

along their respective riverbanks.

• With his son in law Aethelred & the major clergymen, he

established a grid of roads, often following old Roman

roads dividing the town into easily definable communities.