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Uttoxeter History - Beginnings
It was not until Saxon times( 6th Century A.D. ) that a settlement was established at Uttoxeter, approximately 200 years later than the nearby Roman settlement of Rocester.
This was a troubled time for the area, as in the rest of England. It is believed that the Saxons had been invited to England to help fight the Picts who were invading from Scotland now that the Romans had left.
The Saxons eventually drove the existing Britons out of East and Central England into Cornwall and Wales. Many battles were fought as the Britons tried to protect land and homes.
Travel at this time would probably be along river valleys and plains. Uttoxeter was born on high ground above the flood plain of the River Dove near to where there was an easy access to higher ground up an escarpment. This rise in the landscape can be seen easily along the new by-pass opposite Tesco, and can be experienced by walking up Dove Bank or Bridge Street.
It is thought that the site of the original settlement would be near to the present market place as there was natural water available.
The sea faring Saxons as well as being sailors and fierce fighters were farmers and cattlemen and would settle close to river plains and heath land giving them fertile land for crops and land for cattle grazing. The woodland areas around Uttoxeter would supply all of the wood they needed aswell as giving shelter and food for pigs.
Much of the area of England was subject to raids by various invaders and the settlers would have to fight hard to protect their farms and settlements.
There is no actual record or archaeological evidence of a settlement in Uttoxeter until 1086 when it was included in the Domesday Book of the Norman Conqueror, William. He ordered a survey to be conducted of all people in his kingdom with their possessions. In doing this William was able to decide what rents and other dues were to be paid to him.
At this time Uttoxeter was only a small town. The Doomsday Book stated that Wotocheshede ( Uttoxeter) now belonged to the king, it had belonged to a Saxon Earl, Algar who had opposed the king in Staffordshire. William gave this part of Staffordshire to Henry de Ferrers this was to include Tutbury and Burton castles as well as Chartley castle on the road to Stafford near to Weston.
