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HER Number (PRN):60275
Name:Town Wall site, Wyle Cop Meadows 1974
Type of Record:Monument
Protected Status:Listed Building (II*) 1270999: THE GUILDHALL

Monument Type(s):

  • RETAINING WALL (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
  • TOWN WALL (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

This site represents: a wall of medieval to post medieval date. The site is protected by Grade II* Listing.

Parish:Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury and Atcham, Shropshire
Map Sheet:SJ41SE
Grid Reference:SJ 49406 12458

Related records

60308Related to: Revetment wall, Tanners Allotment trench A, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury (Monument)
60309Related to: Sandstone foundations, Tanners Allotment trench B, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury (Monument)
62581Related to: Shrewsbury Town Wall (Section: Dogpole) (Monument)

Associated Finds

  • FSA368 - VESSEL (Medieval to Early 20th century (pre-war) - 1066 AD to 1913 AD)

Associated Events

  • ESA3777 - 1974 excavation

Description

Trench A, in the Guildhall gardens, was excavated to test the proposition that the standing north-south retaining wall represents the medieval town wall. The trench extended 6m east from this main retaining wall. The wall, of red and white sandstones with a chamfered plinth, was founded on strata containing 19th-century pottery. Its lowest ashlar course was at 65.48m.A further standing terrace wall of Grinshill stone, outside the first, was found to be of 18th- or 19th-century date. It had cut the destruction levels of another sandstone wall, a substantial well-faced red sandstone revetment wall surviving three courses high. This sealed pottery of the 17th and early 18th century, but also cut strata of stiff pink clay containing medieval cooking pot sherds. The real medieval town wall was thought by the excavators to lie further to the west beneath the upper section of the Guildhall's garden <1><2>

Note: the results of this trench demonstrate intensive terracing activity on the gradient in the post-medieval period with the construction of substantial sandstone retaining walls. In this context the reference to the Earl of Bradford's 'hanging gardens', meaning terraced gardens <3> is relevant, and may point to a process common to other high-status gardens on the gradient in this area. See also PRN 62553, and 60308/9. <4><5>


<01> Sawle J & Wills J, 1974, Trial Excavation Report, Wyle Cop Meadow, November 1974 (Excavation report). SSA10438.


<02> Carver Martin O H, 1973/ 1974, Early Shrewsbury - An Archaeological definition in 1975, p257 (Article in serial). SSA364.


<03> Stamper Paul A, 1996, Historic Parks and Gardens of Shropshire, p37, n42 ref. ex A complete system of geography, 1747, ex. inf. J B Lawson (Monograph). SSA10437.


<04> Baker Nigel J, UAD Analysis (SMR comment). SSA20432.


<05> Baker Nigel J, 1999, An archaeological appraisal of the gradient east of Dogpole, Shrewsbury, pp.1-2 (Deskbased survey report). SSA23402.

Sources

[01]SSA10438 - Excavation report: Sawle J & Wills J. 1974. Trial Excavation Report, Wyle Cop Meadow, November 1974.
[02]SSA364 - Article in serial: Carver Martin O H. 1973/ 1974. Early Shrewsbury - An Archaeological definition in 1975. Trans Shropshire Archaeol Hist Soc. Vol 59. Pt 3, p225-263. p257.
[03]SSA10437 - Monograph: Stamper Paul A. 1996. Historic Parks and Gardens of Shropshire. p37, n42 ref. ex A complete system of geography, 1747, ex. inf. J B Lawson.
[04]SSA20432 - SMR comment: Baker Nigel J. UAD Analysis.
[05]SSA23402 - Deskbased survey report: Baker Nigel J. 1999. An archaeological appraisal of the gradient east of Dogpole, Shrewsbury. pp.1-2.
Date Last Edited:Oct 26 2018 10:51AM

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