1. Defense: During the Anglo Saxon era, people's homes were vulnerable to raids, robberies, and conflicts. Fences provided an extra layer of security by deterring potential intruders and creating a barrier around the property.
2. Protection for Livestock: Many Anglo Saxon households kept animals such as cows, sheep, and chickens. Fences helped keep livestock contained within the property and prevented them from wandering away or being stolen.
3. Boundary Markers: Fences served as clear boundary markers, indicating the extent of a household's land and ownership. This helped prevent conflicts with neighbors and established a sense of property rights.
4. Social Divisions: Fences sometimes reflected social hierarchies and divisions within the community.Wealthier households might have more substantial and elaborate fences, distinguishing them from lower-status dwellings.
5. Defense against Wild Animals: In rural areas, fences helped protect people from wild animals like wolves, foxes, and bears, which could pose threats to livestock and safety.
6. Privacy: Fences also offered a degree of privacy and shelter, shielding the household compound from prying eyes and creating a sense of enclosure and intimacy.
7. Control Over Access: Fences regulated access to the household. Households could control who entered and left their property, especially if they had gates that could be locked or monitored.