Monument Type(s):

• TOWN WALL (11th century to 14th century - 1066 AD to 1300 AD)

Summary

This site represents: a town wall of medieval date.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA7535 - 1999/2000 WB during groundworks at 24 Meadow Place, Shrewsbury by Jo Barnes
• ESA7590 - 2015 Conservation management survey of the town walls, Shrewsbury, by SCAS

Description

Length of sandstone wall on the known line of the town wall (PRN 62522), forming the south (Meadow Place) elevation to a single-storey ancillary building. Multi-phase. The primary visible fabric consists of Keele Beds blocks of small squarish proportions consistent with an 11th-13th-century date and the town wall as first defined by Barker (PRB 60179); this masonry is coursed in conformity with the slope down to the west (see also PRN 62513). Above is a horizon composed of a four discrete sections of small, flat slabs of Keele Beds rubble masonry, again coursed with the slope, and possibly filling a series of crenellations in the earlier fabric. Above that are perhaps two phases of heightening, utilising re-used masonry, Triassic sandstone below, blocks of Grinshill above. <1>

A programme of archaeological monitoring was undertaken by Jo Barnes, Conservation Officer, SABC in association with redevelopment at 24 Meadow Place in 1999/2000. No 24 Meadow Place consists of two buildings, one a house with a basement, ground and first floor, the other a commercial or ancillary building with a basement and first floor. The front wall of both buildings below first floor level incorporate a section of the medieval town wall. ->

-> As a part of a pre-planning determination condition an assessment of the town wall fragments included in no 24 was undertaken. This identified two clear phases of construction in the west basement the first comprising a chamfered plinth associated with construction material of red and white sandstone ashlar and the second a cruder coarsed sandstone without a plinth. The plinthed section of wall was tentatively identified as primary town wall fabric whilst the coarser material may be a later repair to the fabric where the incorporation of the plinth was not considered a requirement of the work. ->

-> Subsequently, archaeological monitoring was carried out on ground reduction, the removal of c.320mm-400mm of soil across the whole of the site. This recorded a cobbled surface unerlying layers of clinker. ->

-> Includes some photographs, without scales, of the interior face of the wall as revealed. <2>

<2> represents a limited report on these works. It is unclear if formal recording of the town walls ever took place. It may be that a further report was produced on this work, but if so, the likelihood of obtaining a copy remains remote. <3>

Brief snippets of information on this programme of works were noted in a round-up from Jo Barnes to the Civic Society. This suggests that the wall here is part of the original external façade of the Medieval town wall. It records three distinct phases of wall here. <4>

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 stretch is identified as 1d and 1e. ->

-> There are two sections of upstanding sandstone masonry on Meadow Place itself, both incorporated into the south walls of buildings on the north side of the road. The first section (1 d), part of No 24 Meadow Place, is rebuilt masonry. The second section (1 e) from The Albert PH to 20 Meadow Place comprises at least two phases – a lower phase of red sandstone, and upper courses of mixed sandstone bringing the wall up to roof level. The top of the lower courses has traces of a number of patches of masonry filling which have been interpreted as possible filled crenellations. ->

-> This surviving section of the town wall was subject to photogrametric recording by Aerial Cam (see ESA 7591) - 3D pdf in Library Link (warning large file). <5>

<01> Baker Nigel J, UAD Analysis, 17/06/1997 (SMR comment). SSA20432.

<02> Barnes Jo, 1999/2000, Archaeological report on the Town walls at Meadow Place [Shrewsbury] (Watching brief report). SSA28096.

<03> Carey Giles, 2014 onwards, Comments by Giles Carey, HER compiler in HER database, 03/08/2015 (SMR comment). SSA26784.

<04> Barnes Jo, 2000, Building Archaeology in Shrewsbury (Archaeological fieldwork report). SSA28097.

<05> Hannaford Hugh R, 2015, Shrewsbury Town Walls: a conservation management plan (2 volumes), Gazetteer 1d/1e (Management report). SSA28223.

Sources

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