Monument Type(s):

• (Former Type) CASTLE? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• TOWN DITCH? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

A substantial ditch was recorded in archaeological work in 1992-1993. It was originally interpreted as a segment of castle ditch surrounding the site of Whitchurch Castle (PRN 00904), but has latterley been interpreted as part of the town ditch (PRN 05867).

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA4763 - 2001 WB at the car park at Castle Hill, Whitchurch by Giffords (Ref: B3790A)
• ESA88 - 1992 Evaluation at Castle Hill, Whitchurch by Gifford & Partners
• ESA90 - 1993 Excavation and WB at Castle Hill, Whitchurch

Description

In 1992, when carrying out the evaluation of a development site on Castle Hill, Giffords found a ditch containing C17 fill in their Trial Pit B, at SJ5410 4148. <1>

In 1993 Giffords carried out an excavation in advance of a road widening scheme on Castle Hill, at a site at SJ5412 4148, immediately adjacent to the Trial Pit B area examined in 1992. The excavation demonstrated that the ditch was of late C12 or C13 origin, with the C17 ditch fills found in 1992 representing part of the later ditch fills. It also confirmed the line of the ditch, turning northward at the edge of the excavated area. The ditch could be either a town ditch (PRN 05867) or the ditch of Whitchurch Castle (PRN 00904). The late C12 or C13 origin of the ditch and the lack of substantial rubbish deposition as is found in many town ditches led Giffords to suggest the ditch related to Whitchurch Castle. The full extent of the ditch was not recorded in the excavated area, but it was projected as being at least 12m wide and c.3m deep, below present ground level. <1><2>

According to the CMHTS (see also PRN 05867), this argument seem to be based on a misunderstanding of the function of town ditches and has no validity. <3>

A watching brief was carried out on the construction of a car park in 2001 immediately north of the work on Castle Hill carried out in the 1990s. A ditch was recorded in 3 trenches excavated by contractors for water drainage sumps. Ashort section of N-S aligned ditch was recorded. This ditch could possibly be related to the section of ditch previously recorded, and could potentially relate to the Castle or town ditch. A Roman (see PRN 05868) or Medieval date (see PRN 05867) is suggested, although no dating evidence was recovered from the ditch fills. ->

-> This ditch was not fully excavated, but could possibly be c.8.5m-9m wide and 3m in depth. The natural sand and gravels vary in consistence from firm to fairly loose and waterlogged. The primary deposits of firm clay within this feature may be evidence for a clay lining to stabilise this ditch during construction. <4>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, SMR Sheets Collection, SMR Sheet for PRN SA 04623 (Card index). SSA20723.

<01> Gifford and Partners Ltd, 1992, Archaeological Evaluation at Castle Hill, Whitchurch, Shropshire, p25 (Excavation report). SSA3263.

<02> Thompson A, 1993, Report on an Archaeological Excavation at Castle Hill, Whitchurch, Shropshire (Excavation report). SSA11723.

<03> Buteux Victoria, 1993/ 1996, CMHTS SMR Records Shropshire: Whitchurch, Whitchurch 5967 (Record form). SSA19975.

<04> Grant I, 2001, Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief at the Car Park, Castle Hill, Whitchurch, Shropshire (Watching brief report). SSA20766.

Sources

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