ðə tˈaʊɚ wʌz pɹˈɑːbəbli bˈɪlt ɪnðə lˈeɪt ɪlˈɛvənθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi; ðə nˈeɪm ɐpˈɪɹz tə dᵻɹˈaɪv fɹʌmðə mˈɔntfɪtʃɪt fˈæmɪli fɹʌm stˈænstᵻd mˈaʊntfɪtʃɪt ɪn ˈɛsɪks, hˌuː ˈɑːkjʊpˌaɪd ðə tˈaʊɚɹ ɪnðə twˈɛlfθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi.
The tower was probably built in the late 11th century; the name appears to derive from the Montfitchet family from Stansted Mountfitchet in Essex, who occupied the tower in the 12th century.