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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TtVqwMB7phCMoJG1ckFMwKwzaNp3pduDoFnkUkV+nia5yPIrT2SWiXmj2nS+uK1a
 RsNCpsYSDrZD8Z5o59tQog==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000931017-08-000017.txt : 20080519
<SEC-HEADER>0000931017-08-000017.hdr.sgml : 20080519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080519172903
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000931017-08-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080515
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080519
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080519

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:			BRAVERMAN PETER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001139234

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06249
		FILM NUMBER:		08846205

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5168220022

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WINTHROP FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES
		STREET 2:		TWO JERICHO PLAZA, WING A, SUITE 111
		CITY:			JERICHO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11753
</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>2008-05-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001139234</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRAVERMAN PETER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WINTHROP REALTY PARTNERS L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TWO JERICHO PLAZA, WING A, SUITE 111</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JERICHO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11753</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares of Beneficial Ownership</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30830</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person holds an indirect 2.5% ownership interest in FUR Investors LLC, an entity that owns 12,210,000 Common Shares.  Accordingly, Mr. Braverman, has an indirect pecuniary interest in approximately 305,520 of the Common Shares owned by FUR Investors.  However, the Reporting Person does not exercise investment control over the shares held by FUR Investors. Accordingly, the Reporting Person is not deemed to beneficially own any of such shares under Section 13 or Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter Braverman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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