About East Anglia
Apart form sharing similar countrysides and forests, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex also share the communal history of East Anglia. The name East Anglia came from one of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, the kingdom of the East Angles. This kingdom consisted of Norfolk (the North People) and Suffolk (the South People). The regions boundaries were fairly vague, Thetford Forest being on the border between the two. The area is noted for fens, reclaimed marshlands, and particularly throughout Suffolk, striking coastlines.
History of East Anglia
The Kingdom of the East Angles was formed in 520 with the merging of the North and South folk, who were Angles settled in the lands previously settled by the tribes of the Iceni. From there, the power of the Kingdom of Angles rose and fell due to ongoing wars with neighboring kingdoms. In 870, the Danes took the kingdom, which they renamed East Anglia The Saxons then retook East Anglia briefly in 920, however, they were unable to hold onto it, and lost it to Canute the Great in 1015.
Post Conquest
After the Norman Conquest, the Duchys of Norfolk and Suffolk were formed, and the more formal borders were drawn up. The agricultural nature of the lands made them important throughout the middle ages, though sadly much of the power and importance of East Anglia declined after the Industrial Revolution moved manufacturing to the Midlands and the North.
East Anglia in the Air
During World War Two East Anglia became of vital importance to the war effort, as the United States Air Force built many bomber bases in the Anglian region. Due to it’s proximity to the European coast, many fighter bases were built in Suffolk; Norfolk was primarily a home to bomber bases, which could hold more fuel and therefore cover more distance. Anglia was also chosen as it had considerable open space and fairly level terrain, making it easier to build and scramble air force fleets. Remnants of many of these bases can still be seen today, and some of these bases are still in operation, either as military bases or for commercial purposes.
East Anglia Today
Though a friendly rivalry exists between Norfolk and Suffolk, the area as a whole remains a welcoming and friendly place. Norfolk’s largest city, Norwich, is home to the University of East Anglia, and smaller scale historic towns like Bury St. Edmunds, Sudbury, and Newmarket are a great place to see history in action. For those who are looking for more ancient history, areas like Sutton Hoo and it’s ancient burial mounds are a must see. The Broads offer boating holidays and a chance to see the quainter side of Anglia, and for a coastal holiday, Lowestoftand Southwold are a must. With it’s rich history and natural scenic beauty, East Anglia is a great place for a visit.
Will Averill is a freelance travel and entertainment writer and administrator for the Suffolk Tourist Guide, a complete online guide to Suffolk accommodation, travel, and entertainment.
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