-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MVJhpa5qNHsZZ4qXQBkKtWNCTGHCslXGoIUCO2t6VHt9oj7WvuqBBV0CJO+PZPqH
 F+qETyMh0WLq+xU0gF219A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000931017-06-000001.txt : 20060105
<SEC-HEADER>0000931017-06-000001.hdr.sgml : 20060105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060105162657
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000931017-06-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMBRY TALTON R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001025165

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06249
		FILM NUMBER:		06513207

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128130900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MAGTEN ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP
		STREET 2:		410 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

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
</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>2006-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001025165</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EMBRY TALTON R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MAGTEN ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>410 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</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 Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>141066</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.65</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1021519</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person is the Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Magten Asset Management Corp. (&quot;Magten&quot;), an investment advisor which has voting power and investment power with respect to the securities of its clients' accounts.Transaction reported is a distribution of shares to clients with discretionary accounts managed by Magten.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents closing price of common shares on January 3, 2006</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Reporting Person is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Issuer. This report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is subject to Section 16 with respect to such securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">31,264 of such shares are held in an IRA for the benefit of the Reporting Person, 31,073 of such shares are held in an IRA for the benefit of the Reporting Person's spouse and 44,458 are held in a trust account in which the Reporting Person is the trustee for the Reporting Person's minor son.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The remaining shares are owned beneficially by discretionary accounts managed by the Reporting Person.  The Reporting Person disclaims any beneficial ownership of any such securities reported herein for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purposes.  Nonetheless, the entire amount of securities held in the accounts has been reported herein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Talton Embry</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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