Monument Type(s):

• MARSH (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
• NATURAL FEATURE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• TOWN DEFENCES (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

A marshy area lay in the NW part of the Severn river loop, at the foot of Roushill (the first element of which is derived from rhos, meaning a damp plain). This functioned as part of the town defences until the late medieval period. When the town began to spread across the wall and ditch, the marshy area was taken into cultivation.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA6737 - 2012 Excavation on land off Smithfield Road, Shrewsbury (Premier Inn Site) by SLR Consulting
• ESA10981 - 2024 Archaeology statement for Smithfield Riverside, Shrewsbury by EDP (Ref: 24/04035/FUL)
• ESA10982 - 2024 Heritage statement for Smithfield Riverside, Shrewsbury by Turley Heritage (Ref: 24/04035/FUL)

Description

A marshy area lay in the NW part of the Severn river loop, at the foot of Roushill (the first element of which is derived from rhos, meaning a damp plain). This functioned as part of the town defences until the late medieval period. When the town began to spread across the wall and ditch, the marshy area was taken into cultivation. <1>

The area shown on the SMR mapping for this feature is derived from the flood plain and flood plain channels identified in this area on the Shrewsbury UAD deposit model. <2>

Archaeological investigations were undertaken in January 2012 on a site on Smithfield Road, Shrewsbury ahead of the construction of the Premier Inn hotel. This site lay within this area of reclaimed land. ->

-> A series of six trenches were excavated across the site. They demonstrated that the site formed part of the floodplain, probably used as meadowland during medieval and post-medieval times, until the 19th century when a concerted effort to raise the level by 2m culminated in construction of Smithfield Cattle Market (PRN 08255). Archaeological evidence consists of tiplines from episodes of dumping, comprising clay, sand and gravel with pebbles, brick fragments, lime mortar, ash, clinker and slate, sealed beneath a brick surface at c.51.8m AOD. ->

-> The investigation confirmed that the medieval and Civil War outer defences of Shrewsbury ran between the River Severn and the site, and therefore probably underneath Smithfield Road. No evidence for a wall or ditch was recorded in this area. There is a very slight possibility that a ditch might lie beneath Trenches 1 and 2 as water entered the trenches before the alluvial silts could be revealed, and tip lines could suggest infill of a deep feature, but the same pattern of tipping was found in trenches that were taken down to the old ground surface of the floodplain. This suggests that it is more likely deposits in Trenches 1 and 2 formed part of a general raising in level of the floodplain in this area, although elswhere it has been difficult to identify the town ditch because the silt fills are so similar to floodplain alluvium and buried beneath substantial levelling/reclamation material. <3>

The 1575 Burleigh Map is the earliest plan of Shrewsbury. It illustrates that the town had seen substantial development by the 16th century. At this time, this area comprised open land bounded by the River Severn. By the early 17th century Roushill had been laid out and was described as “Roushill Lane”. By the mid 18th century, Roushill had been built up, with the remaining land undeveloped. <4>

Sources

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