Monument Type(s):

• BUILDING (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1901 AD)
• TOWER (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1901 AD)
• WALL (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1901 AD)

Summary

This site represents: a wall of probable medieval to post medieval date, a tower of probable medieval to post medieval date, a building of probable medieval to post medieval date. The site is protected by Grade II Listing.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA3685 - 1898 field observation
• ESA3686 - 1913 field observation
• ESA7590 - 2015 Conservation management survey of the town walls, Shrewsbury, by SCAS

Description

The remains of a tower in the King s Head Passage were first noted by Colonel Prideaux. On the side facing King's Head passage is a narrow, apparently pointed window, with perhaps two or three embrasures. Below this is a square window, which was probably opened out subsequently to the building of the tower, but is now bricked up. There is also a bricked-up archway, which may have afforded an exit to the passage . The south and east walls were said to remain, the building occupying the rear of Mr Innes the fishmonger's premises (in Mardol). Inside was a fireplace in the east wall and an original doorway at the north-east angle [<1>]. It was also visited by R E Davies, and J A Morris, who described: a wall about 26ft long, which has evidently been returned at each end, so as to form a square building...There are several blocked openings in the wall, which appear to have been embrasures or window openings: one of these has a chamfered jamb, typical of 13th century work. There are also the remains of what may have been a doorway, and evidence of various alterations made at different periods [<2>]. The site was also visited twice in August 1911 by correspondents to the Shrewsbury Chronicle s Notes & Queries column. H claimed that Col. Prideaux's tower was no such thing: the remains have several ecclesiastical characteristics; inside there is part of a string course of ornamental moulding, and amongst the debris are parts of an ecclesiastical window, quite foreign to a building for defensive purposes [<3>]; Philip Pyegeon, replying to this, reported that the few fragments of moulded masonry now formed a sort of rockery and that when seen by Col Prideaux it had been a storey higher, but was now much dilapidated and no positive opinion can be formed [<4>]. No remains fitting or resembling these accounts are now (1997) apparent and the basis of these observations is unknown, though the 1st edition OS 1:500 sheet of 1882 shows a building approx. 26 ft square on the north-west side of King s Head Passage, at the rear of No.46a: this may be the structure referred to <5>

A reference to a place called Foster's Tower in the Borough records may relate to this structure, which was described as being situated in Roushill by Severn. It is referred to by that name as late as 1737 when it belonged to a Francis Baldwynn and may have derived the name from Robert Foster who was mayor of Shrewsbury in 1650. A rectangular structure of the correct dimensions is marked on the 1882 Ordnance Survey 25 inch plan <6>

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 5d. <7>

<01> Prideaux W F, 1898-Mar-11, The Gates of Shrewsbury (Article in serial). SSA10377.

<02> Morris J A, 1927/ 1928, The King's Head Inn and Town Walls in Mardol, Shrewsbury (Article in serial). SSA10376.

<03> Anon, 1911-Aug-18, Excavations in Mardol (Article in serial). SSA10375.

<04> Pyegeon Philip, 1911-Aug-25, Excavations in Mardol (Article in serial). SSA10374.

<05> Baker Nigel J, UAD Analysis (SMR comment). SSA20432.

<06> Appleton-Fox Nic, 1999, The old Empire Cinema, Mardol, Shrewsbury, Shropshire: report on an archaeological desk based survey (Deskbased survey report). SSA21906.

<07> Hannaford Hugh R, 2015, Shrewsbury Town Walls: a conservation management plan (2 volumes), Gazetteer 5d (Management report). SSA28223.

Sources

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