Witton Gilbert

There is archaeological evidence of the area having been populated in the late Neolithic and in the Bronze Age periods. A small Roman settlement at Crookton across the River Browney existed as a settlement until the 13th century. Witton Gilbert is a medieval town of Saxon origin. Witton was originally spelled Witun (Wit meaning white house and Tun meaning fortified place). The designation "Gilbert" was added later and could refer to the Norman lord Gilbert de la Ley, a major landowner in the 12th century, or a later lord Gilbert de la Latone. In medieval times Witton Gilbert was very important to the churchmen of Durham and became the place of a retreat or residence of the latter. Other…