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.
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.