Bridgwater Town Defences

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Brugewauter; Eastover

In the civil parish of Bridgwater. In the historic county of Somerset (Modern Authority of Somerset, 1974 county of Somerset).

Parts of the medieval town ditch and bank have been found during excavations in the 1970's and 1980's. The ditch was 5m deep and was open until C16, before being sealed by C18 and C19 material. There were four town gates, which were removed before 1878. Single grant of murage in 1269. Leland wrote there were four gates, but houses served instead of a wall.
The town defences were outgrown early on: burgages were being laid out beyond them in the 13th century. They probably consisted of a bank and ditch, with four gates. There are references to a wall (Dunning & Siraut, 1992), but no remains of any stone structure have been found. The sites of the town gates are known approximately, but few details have yet been recovered. The West Gate (SMR 12432) was in existence in the 13th century and was repaired in 1556; documents suggest it was of red sandstone with living accommodation above (Bridgwater Excavation Committee). The 13th century North Gate (SMR 12390) was rebuilt in the 17th century and demolished as part of late 18th century road improvements. The site used to be marked by a stone. The South Gate (SMR 12433) was in existence in the 14th century. It was demolished as part of early 19th century turnpike improvements. The East Gate, or St John’s Gate (SMR 12393), was mentioned in the 13th century, and was still standing in the 16th century. (Gathercole)
Parts of the medieval town ditch and wall have been located during excavations and watching briefs throughout the 1970s and 1980s. the ditch was located at 43 Friars Street (ST 29670 36830) where it was found to be at least 3m deep with a bank on its eastern side. It was open until the C 16 before being sealed by C 18 and C 19 material. (PastScape–ref. Ellis, 1985)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is ST299371

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 190991
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 12434; 12432; 12390; 12433; 12393 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Web site links
  • http://www.bridgwatercivic.org.uk/blueplaques/phase1.htm
    http://www.bridgwatercivic.org.uk/blueplaques/phase2.htm
    http://www.friarn.co.uk/ [For maps and analysis and photos of building stone]
    http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=12434
• Books
  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p182, 183, 257
    Dunning, R.W. and Siraut, M.C., 1992, 'Bridgwater' in VCH Somerset Vol6 p192-206 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18640
    Bond, C.J., 1987, 'Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Defences' in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds) Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report) p92-116
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2
    Barley, M.W., 1975, 'Town Defences in England and Wales after 1066' in Barley (ed) Medieval Towns in England and Wales (CBA research reports) pp57-71
    Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p191
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co) p219
    Jarman, S.G., 1889, History of Bridgwater p260
    Collinson, J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Somersetshire Vol3 p75
• Journal Articles
  • Langdon, M., 1985-6, ‘Somerset Archaeology 1986' Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Vol130 p152
    Ellis, P., 1984-5, ‘Excavations at Friarn Street and West Quay, Bridgwater, 1983/84' Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Vol129 p69–80
    Langdon, M., 1976, 'Somerset Archaeology 1974-75' Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Vol120 p73
    Parker, G., 1878, Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Vol23 p46-7
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Calendar of Patent Rolls (1266-1272) p371 [murage grant]
    Dilks, T.B. (ed), 1933, Bridgwater Borough Archives 1200-1377 (Somerset Records Society) p48, 53, 58, 60
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p422
    Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Bell and Sons; London) Vol1 p162 http://www.archive.org/details/itineraryofjohnl01
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Clare Gathercole, nd (c. 2001), An archaeological assessment of Bridgwater English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey (Somerset County Council) http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/media/1AF7C/EUS_BridgwaterText.pdf
    Cox, P.W., and Chandler, J., 1991, The proposed redevelopment of land off Taunton Road, Bridgwater: Archaeological Assessment