Bulldozing history?

According to Crowhurstian Martin White, a valuable historical site is about to be bulldozed in the next few days as part of the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road development, reports HOT’s Zelly Restorick. 

Prior to construction, archaeologists were commissioned by East Sussex County Council to investigate any areas of possible historical or archaeological interest along the path of the road, including the Upper Wilting site. According to White, the team were specifically searching for evidence of a late Saxon era fortification and found nothing of any interest. However, White says that he has found an academic paper which disagrees with this conclusion – the paper discusses a medieval document known as the Burghal Hidage which lists 33 fortifications set up in late Anglo-Saxon times including one at Hastings whose measurements “tally very well with the fortifications at Upper Wilting.”

According to White, the Burghal Hidage fortifications were built to protect southern England from attack by the Vikings and he suggests that the Hastings fortification is not the castle, as previously assumed, but a fort built at the Wilting Farm location.

Stumps of old hedge at Wilting.

“The Upper Wilting site could easily have been compared with these Saxon documents,” White continues, “particularly the measurements given in these documents. But apparently, nobody even bothered to do this… And because they did not even bother to look, a significant historical site is probably going to be completely demolished without any proper investigation. This is just scandalous. Bulldozers are due to remove all traces of this important site probably this week or next.

“If my assessments were confirmed,” continues White, “it would provide both documentary and physical evidence, all of which is completely independent of the controversy surrounding 1066. Regardless of theories put forward regarding the Norman Conquest for Upper Wilting, a Burghal Hidage Fort location would be a significant historical site worthy of protection. Documentary evidence (pre and post conquest) exists and physical assessment is both straightforward and presently possible.”

Although not for much longer. Work on constructing the link road continues at a pace and if there is any truth in what White suggests, evidence of any fortification will soon be lost for good.

Further information on Burghal Hidage fortifications here.

3 Comments

1. Fred

   This is sacrilege to bulldoze our History. England does not have her own representation a parliament of her own to protect her, unlike Scotland, Wales and Ireland and therefore The British Government and it’s Councils don’t care, they use England as a cash-cow and nothing more. You have less rights in England that anywhere in the free world. It’s this outright discrimination that is why your Battle field is being destroyed, this wouldn’t happen if it was Scotland.
   Sussex Council MUST STOP. They are breaking the LAW This needs a new approach.

   Comment by Fred — Sunday, Jun 23, 2013 @ 19:10

2. Sarah jane de Havilland

   Is it possible to stop the machines degrading the site and how can it be prevented now all the awful plans for the NEW ROAD hav gone through the authorities ? ……

   Comment by Sarah jane de Havilland — Wednesday, Jun 19, 2013 @ 19:44

3. Martin White

   Spot on – thanks for raising the issue – Martin White

   Comment by Martin White — Tuesday, Jun 18, 2013 @ 19:58