Monument Type(s):

• CURTAIN WALL (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
• RAMPART (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument and Grade I Listed Building: Walls of probable 12th century origin but now much rebuilt, surrounding the inner bailey of Shrewsbury Castle.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA7889 - 2001 DBA and building survey of Shrewsbury Castle by Richard K Morriss
• ESA7890 - 2001 Assessment of the buried archaeology of Shrewsbury Castle by Nigel Baker
• ESA10513 - 2022 Excavations on the motte and the north curtain wall at Shrewsbury Castle by Nigel Baker

Description

The curtain walls surrounding the inner bailey. At the time of writing no structural analysis has taken place. Superficial inspection shows that the walls are clearly of several periods. The major part of their fabric is Keele Beds sandstone, varying in colour from red-brown to purples and greys; there is extensive rebuilding at parapet level, generally ascribed to Thomas Telford's work, in red-brown Nesscliff-type sandstone. The section of wall running up the motte to the south of the postern gate (62512) contains substantial amounts of Coed-yr-Allt Beds greenish-grey sandstone, known archaeologically from the ?early 13th-century precinct wall at Shrewsbury Abbey (see PRNs 00983, 62637). Radford claimed that the curtain walls, laid out in short straight stretches, were of 12th-century date [<1>]; this could be consistent with the form of the arch to the main gate; it is unlikely that the walls are, as has been claimed, of 11th-century date (see 01097). Structural analysis urgently needed. Outside face of east side of curtain wall not seen. Extent of archaeological recording (if any) prior to reconstruction following partial collapse of section overlooking station, or other work detailed (under 01097) on curtain walls is unknown <2>

Discussed in a desk-based assessment of the Castle in 2001, undertaken in association with the preparation of a conservation plan. The walls appear to have been of stone by the middle of the 12th century, if the dating of the southern gateway is accurate, and presumably replaced timber palisades. In some sections, the walls are laid out in straight sections joined together, rather than being segmental in plan. By a survey of 1627, parts of the curtain wall were described as only part standing and other sections as being partly renewed. More repairs were presumably undertaken at the start of the Civil War. The sections of the walling are described in detail and elevations are reproduced. <3>

The curtain walls of the inner bailey are founded upon earthwork ramparts on the west and north sides. An assessment of the castle, undertaken in 2001 by Nigel Baker, for a conservation plan for the castle, identified the extent of these ramparts and reproduces sections across them. <4><4a>

Course of inner bailey walls cut by construction of Dana footpath, c.1790. The regular coursing of the wall, parallel with the assumed natural slope down to the SWm and the squarish proportions of most of the masonry are suggested as indicating that this wall was part of, or built contemporaneously with, the 13th century town walls and resembles what is probably the primary town wall fabric on Meadow Place (PRN 62523). <5>

Initial discussion of the character of the curtain walls in report on 2020 excavations within the castle, by Dr Nigel Baker. The curtain walls of Shrewsbury Castle have never been seriously investigated. C A Ralegh Radford’s (<1>) remark that they are built in short straight stretches characteristic of the late 12th century has often been repeated but is certainly wrong, walls built like this being characteristic of the re-fortification of curving earthworks in any period, and the walls of Shrewsbury Castle showing so many clear rebuilds and local differences in fabric that they are obviously complex multi-period artefacts. Dating individual builds is a major problem, particularly as there is only a limited resemblance anywhere to the more closely dateable fabric of historic buildings in the town centre. ->

-> The evidence is overall that the ‘inner bailey’ as we see it today is not part of the original castle design. See report for more detailed discussion. <6>

Sources

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