Monument Type(s):

• TOWN GATE (13th century to Post Medieval - 1260 AD? to 1901 AD)
• TOWN HALL (13th century to 17th century - 1260 AD? to 1652 AD)
• CHARITY SCHOOL (Early 18th century to Early 20th century (pre-war) - 1700 AD to 1913 AD)

Summary

Largest of the three gatehouses of Medieval Bridgnorth, built between 1260 and 1270.The Hall above the gateway was used as a form of Town Hall until 1652. It was rebuilt after a fire in 1646, and renovated and faced with brick c1740.It was occupied by the Bluecoat School until 1910. It was then refaced with stone and the present windows inserted. It is protected by Grade II Listing.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA408 - 1960 field observation by the Ordnance Survey

Description

Circa 1910. Sandstone encasing plain brick structure of 1740. Single storey on 3 arches across road; battlements; 3 trefoil-headed transomed mullioned windows. Adjoining building over a piazza <2>

The North gate was so thoroughly restored in 1910 that it is now all C20. It was a brick structure of 1740 <3>

Largest of the three gatehouses of Medieval Bridgnorth. Originally built between 1260 and 1270. Contained one of four prisons, the "Thieves Hole". North Gate led out to Halls Bridge, a wooden structure crossing the town ditch. Gatehouse of stone work with timber upper stories. Above the gateway was a hall used for annual Court Leet and Court of View of Franc Pledge. Referred to as the Town Hall in 17th century. Suffered severely in fire during Civil War siege 1646. Rebuilt but replaced in 1652 by new Town Hall in centre of High St. Renovated and faced with brick c1740, and occupied by Bluecoat School until 1910. Then refaced with stone and present windows inserted. <6>

Brief history of the Northgate given in leaflet produced by Bridgnorth and District Historical Society in 2002. <8>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards, SMR Card for PRN SA 00379 (Card index). SSA20722.

<01a> Watkins-Pitchford D W, 1937/ 1938, Collections for a History of Bridgnorth, Salop: a MS by William Hardwicke, p199 (Article in serial). SSA1718.

<01> Ordnance Survey, 1977, Ordnance Survey Record Card SO79SW7.7 (Card index). SSA1734.

<02> Department of the Environment (DoE), 1974-Feb-01, 4th List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p78 (List of Buildings). SSA599.

<03> Pevsner Nikolaus, 1958, Buildings of England (Shropshire), p81 (Monograph). SSA110.

<04> Burrow Ian, 1976, North Gate, Bridgnorth (Photograph). SSA1735.

<05> Shropshire County Council, 1989, Correspondence, 1989 (Correspondence). SSA1733.

<06> Watkins-Pitchford D W, 1947/ 1948, A Visit to Bridgnorth (Article in serial). SSA12028.

<07> Newman J & Pevsner N, 2006, Buildings of England: Shropshire, p166 (Monograph). SSA23518.

<08> Webb A, 2002, A brief history of The Northgate (Leaflet). SSA28726.

Sources

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