Walton

Walton began its life as part of the line of ten Saxon Shore forts built by the Romans. It was probably built a little later than our other Roman fort at Burgh Castle around ad 290-320. Known as Por-tus Adurni, it lay between the rivers Deben, Stour and Orwell. These rivers provided the main access points for any raiders wishing to travel quickly into the heart of the countryside. Like Burgh Castle, the station was mainly used to house battalions of cavalry, probably 500-800 men.

The fort stood on the cliffs in an area of Felixstowe called Brackcnbury Cliffs, known locally as ‘The Dip’. The design of the fort was probably very similar to Burgh Castle with dimensions of around 204 X 142 yards (187 x 130 m) wide, compared to Burgh Castle’s 233 x 135 yards (213 x 123 m).

Walton Castle fell into the sea in the early l8th century. Some masonry is still visible at very low tides.

The site has been investigated by underwater teams in 1933, 1970 and 1976. Unfortunately, underwater diving in the area is extremely precarious and fine sand particles make visibility very difficult.

O. S. LANDRANGER MAP I6g Ipswich

C. Rin REFERENCE TM414117

Sometimes extending to as little as 18 inches (0.5 m). The teams confirmed that the building material was of Roman origin. They discovered what appeared to be two walls radiating from the central mass of the ruin and what was thought to be a bastion from the fort. Coins from ad 14 to the 4th century have also been located. Materials used for building were knapped flint, mortar, tiles and red brick. To the west of the fort was a Roman settlement, probably for families of the garrison and people employed in their service. On this site have been found a number

TYPE

Rimitm fort ami mottc? OWNERSHIP

Siihimn’cd

Tin remains of Walton Castle depicted in an enfirapinj’of 1766.

Of artefacts, including dies for minting coins.

The Romans had abandoned the site by the year 407.

It is clai med by some that the next use of the site was when St Felix established the first East Anglian Bishopric known as Domnox in the 7th century. Felix, a Burgundian, had been invited into the area along with St Furscy to establish Christianity over Celtic heathenism. However, Dunwich has a much better claim to the story. The name Felixstowe means either Felica’s meeting place or holy place associated with St Felix. Felix did however establish a church in the town. St Felix was not buried in the town but at Soham in Cambridgeshire (his body later being transferred to Ramsey Abbey, Huntingdonshire).

After 1066, the land was given to Roger le Bigot. Bigot had distinguished himself at the Battle of Hasti ngs, and was recorded in the Battle Abbey Roll of Honour as one of William’s companions. This was an extremely high honour. Bigot was rewarded with 117 of the 629 manors in Suffolk. In addition he received six manors in Essex. Walton was his largest manor in Suffolk and covered a large part of the Colneis Peninsular. In 1075, Ralph de Guadar, Earl of Norfolk, rebelled unsuccessfully against William I and was forced to flee the country. Bigot was given Guadar’s 187 manors in Norfolk, which Made him the most powerful baron in Suffolk and Norfolk, even greater than Robert Mallet (see p. 31). Bigot became Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk and Steward of the Royal Household. He now adopted the anglicised name of Bigod upon his marriage to Alice, daughter of Sir Hugh Grandmesnel.

In 1097, one year after the founding of Norwich cathedral, Roger and his son William established a small priory for Benedictine monks at Walton. This was established in a walled enclosure in the northeast corner of the fort. (Bigod also established Thet-ford priory in 1105.) In 1146, Walton Priory moved to land known as Bredinge near Walton church (the land was destroyed by the sea around 1290) and gave back the Roman enclosure to Hugh Bigod.