Exeter, the old capital of the West Welsh, situated at the tidal head of the Exe, had considerable trade.

Oxford was a place of traffic and a fortified town.

Hastings, Dover, and the other south-coast ports had some communications with France.

The only other places of any note were Chippenham, Bensington, and Aylesbury; Northampton and Southampton; Bamborough; the fortified posts built by Eadward and AEthelflaed; and the Danish boroughs of Bedford, Derby, Leicester, Stamford, Nottingham, and Huntingdon.

The Witena-gemots and the synods took place in any town, irrespective of size, according to royal convenience.