Monument Type(s):

• TOWER (Late Saxon to Medieval - 800 AD? to 1540 AD)
• TOWN WALL (Late Saxon to Medieval - 800 AD? to 1540 AD)

Summary

The site of a probable late Saxon to medieval tower and a probable late Saxon to medieval town wall.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1979 - 1960 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA4837 - 2000 Evaluation at site of Garewalds Tower in advance of remedial works by Marches Archaeology
• ESA7590 - 2015 Conservation management survey of the town walls, Shrewsbury, by SCAS

Description

On the middle part of the flank wall between the lower Castle Gates and the steps near Rope Walk, stood an old tower called Gerwald's Tower, or Gerewaldis Castle; it was built on the bank of the ditch without the wall <1a>
Garweldescastel is mentioned in Coroner's Accounts for 1296 and Garewaldescastel in 1297 <1b>
Davies claims that his postulated Town Wall of c1100 was guarded by a tower called Gerewald's Tower <1c>
All the authorities appear to agree that the tower was situated mid-way between the Castle and the Severn, the area centred at SJ4931 1287. No trace found at the siting given on the OS 25in map of 1927, i.e. at SJ4923 1291. OS FI 1960 <1>

The Castellum Garewald was recorded for the first time in the Bailiffs' Accounts for November 1256 [<2>]; later accounts, for 1258, show that a 'new gate' was being built there as well as repairs to an old tower. The site of the tower appears (contrary to later writers who put it half-way between the castle and the river [<3>]) to have been on the riverside, overlooking the 'ford of Garewald' [PRN 62525], recorded in 1259 [<4>]. The use of the word castellum at this date is probably significant, it seems to imply more than a mural tower, being the term generally employed to describe a castle bailey [<5>]. The name Garewald is, according to Dr M Gelling, most likely to be derived from an OE personal name Gaerwald, the French equivalent having become Gerald by the 13th century [<6>]. All references above, courtesy of Dorothy Cromarty. The tower may be that referred to in a Corporation document of Nov.4th 1562 as the 'Great Decayed tower in Rowsell hard at Severn side' let to Richard Onslow, draper, for 4d per annum [<8>]. The tower/castellum was associated with the Meadow Place town defences [wall, PRN 62522; ditch, PRN 62528] crossing the town peninsula at the narrowest point. This begins to suggest the possibility of pre-13th-century origins, a possibility that is not diminished by the association of a probable OE personal name [See PRN 62522]. The location of this feature is not entirely certain. Its documented association with the ford is consistent with the depiction of this part of the defences on the Burghley Map of c.1575, though a note in the SMR record states that 'No trace found at the siting given on the OS 25in map of 1927, ie at SJ4923 1291. OS FI 1960 [<1>]'. Sandstone masonry has however been observed at this location (NJB, 1996, from river), and this point appears in the UAD cartography. In 1898 R E Davies noted this location as that postulated earlier by William Phillips for the tower [<7>]. Field visit required to garden of no.6 Severn Terrace. Garweldescastel is mentioned in Coroner's Accounts for 1296 and Garewaldescastel in 1297 [<1b>] <9>

This apex of the wall (PRN 62527 and 62522) is shown on Rocque's map of c. 1760. A mass of red sandstone was found in this location at a depth of between 0.3m and 0.9m, although the wall was thought to be of 17th century date. <10>

A conservation management plan was prepared in 2015 for the entire circuit of town walls surrounding Shrewsbury (excluding around Shrewsbury Castle at the NE corner). This provides a general historic overview of the development of the town defences, together with detailed analysis and management recommendations for individual sections (in gazetteer form in volume 2). This tower is identified as 1f and 2a. <11>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards, SMR Card for PRN SA 01446 (Card index). SSA20722.

<01a> Phillips T, 1779, History and Antiquities of Shrewsbury, p143 (Monograph). SSA1219.

<01d> Blakeway J B, 1886, Article in the Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society, p287 (Article in serial). SSA10639.

<01b> Drinkwater C H, 1905, Article in the Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society (Article in serial). SSA5578.

<01c> Davies R E, 1909/ 1912, Town Walls of Shrewsbury, p176 (Article in serial). SSA5571.

<01> Ordnance Survey, 1960, Ordnance Survey Record Card SJ41SE47.2 (Card index). SSA10642.

<02> Anon, 1256-Nov, Bailiffs' Accounts, Nov 1256 (Manuscript). SSA10641.

<03> Blakeway J B, 1905, The Topographical History of Shrewsbury, p257 (Article in serial). SSA10571.

<04> Cromarty D, Letters and Notes from D Cromarty to N J Baker, (Correspondence). SSA10643.

<05> Pounds N J G, 1990, The Medieval Castle in England and Wales: a Social and Political History, p22 (Monograph). SSA10640.

<06> 'Interested Reader', 1949, Article in Shrewsbury Circular (Article in serial). SSA11063.

<07> Davies R E, 1898-Jun-03, The Gates and Walls of Shrewsbury (Article in serial). SSA10359.

<08> Anon, 1911/ 1912, The Gates: Shrewsbury Town Walls and Towers, p101, 03/05/1912 (Article in serial). SSA10638.

<09> Baker Nigel J, UAD Analysis, 17/06/1997 (SMR comment). SSA20432.

<10> Appleton-Fox Nic, 2000, The Town Walls, Smithfield Rd, Shrewsbury: a report on an archaeological evaluation (Excavation report). SSA20851.

<11> Hannaford Hugh R, 2015, Shrewsbury Town Walls: a conservation management plan (2 volumes), Gazetteer 1f/2a (Management report). SSA28223.

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.