The Barbican and other London watch towers

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Barbacan; Burhkenning

In the civil parish of City Of London. In the historic county of London, City of (Modern Authority of London, City of, 1974 county of Greater London).

The site of an outer fortification of the City, possibly a watch-tower. Stow said it was pulled down by Henry III in 1267 after the war with the Barons. Stow also reports other watch towers in the city but not located and all destroyed at the same time.
'On the North West side of this City, near unto Redcross Street, there was a Tower, commonly called Barbican, or Burhkenning; for that the same, being placed on an high Ground, and also builded of some good Height, was (in old Time) used as a Watch Tower for the City; from whence a Man might behold and view the whole City towards the South, and also see into Kent, Sussex and Surrey, and likewise every other way, East, North, or West.
'Some other Burhkennings or Watch Towers there were of old Time, in and about the City, all which were repaired, yea, and others new builded by Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Glocester, in the Reign of King Henry the Third, when the Barons were in Arms, and held the City against the King. But the Barons being reconciled to his Favour, in the Year 1267, he caused all their Burhkennings, Watch Towers, and Bulwarks, made and repaired by the said Earl, to be plucked down, and the Ditches to be filled up, so that nought of them might be seen to remain. And then was this Burhkenning, amongst the rest, overthrown and destroyed; and altho' the Ditch near thereunto, called Houndsditch, was stopped up, yet the Street (of long Time after) was called Houndsditch, and of late Time (more commonly) called Barbican. The Plot or Seat of this Burhkenning, or Watch Tower, King Edward III. in the Year 1336, and the Tenth of his Reign, gave unto Robert Efford, [or Ufford] Earl of Suffolk, by the Name of his Manor of Base Court, in the Parish of S. Giles without Cripplegate, of London, commonly called the Barbican.' (Stype)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ32268190

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 404558
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular '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, or elsewhere.

• Books
  • Weinreb, Ben and Hibbert, Christopher (eds), 1983 [rev edn 1993], The London Encyclopeadia (Macmillian) p39-40
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • Stype, John, 1720, A Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster Vol1 p63 http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/strype/TransformServlet?page=book1_063
    William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/midlesexeng.html#mids22]
    Kingsford, C.L. (ed), 1908, A Survey of London, by John Stow: Reprinted from the text of 1603 Vol1 p44-71 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=60021#s6