-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 S5tlS/5Bdug5XELxQDTblBaDSUVGNi31dK7GnjtBifq/epwOYWXWrMtNTFDRBRlw
 IACX7CQZtrtw+6clKHWoeg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000931017-07-000033.txt : 20070816
<SEC-HEADER>0000931017-07-000033.hdr.sgml : 20070816
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070816083058
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000931017-07-000033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070816
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070816

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Winthrop Realty Trust
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000037008
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				346513657
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 BULFINCH PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500 PO BOX 9507
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6175704614

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 BULFINCH PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500 PO BOX 9507
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02114

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST UNION REAL ESTATE EQUITY & MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST UNION REALTY
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19691012

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLASBERG ARTHUR JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275391

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06249
		FILM NUMBER:		071061240

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SULLIVAN & WORCESTER LLP
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			021098
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172106988
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000037008</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Winthrop Realty Trust</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>fur</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275391</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLASBERG ARTHUR JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares of Beneficial Ownership</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>130091</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arthur Blasberg,Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----