Record Details

Summary

The medieval borough boundary bank and ditch, dug circa 1129-1135 and attributed Roger de Clinton. This is probably the same as Primary Record Number 05520 - also medieval defences.

Monument Type(s):

• TOWN DEFENCES (Established, Norman - 1129 AD to 1135 AD)

Associated Events:

• EST1800 - An archaeological watching brief on land at Birmingham Road, Lichfield, May 2007. (NRHE Name - Land at Birmingham Road) (Ref: OSA Report No: OSA07WB12)
• EST909 - An archaeological watching brief at St John's Hospital, Lichfield, September-October 2000. (NRHE Name - St John's Hospital, Lichfield) (Ref: Report No. 00/18)
• EST915 - An archaeological watching brief at Staffordshire University Lichfield Campus, The Friary, Lichfield, September 2000. (NRHE Name - See Description) (Ref: Project No. 749)
• EST2103 - An archaeological evaluation at Birmingham Road, Lichfield. (Ref: OSA Report No: OSA07EV14)
• EST10 - An archaeological excavation on the site of the Hartshorn Inn, St. John's Street, Lichfield, 1986. (NRHE Name - St John Street)
• EST2559 - An archaeological desk based assessment of Beatrice Court, 30 - 36 St. John Street, Lichfield, December 2015. (Ref: AAL2015172)

Protected Status:

Full description

Town Defences: The medieval borough boundary bank and ditch to Lichfield, which has been attributed to Roger de Clinton. <1>

Excavation on the site of the Hartshorn Inn (a post-medieval coaching inn), St John Street, revealed the north edge of the city ditch, dug circa 1129-1135. The ditch was located at two points, cutting the natural sandstone, with a fill containing 18th century pottery. (SB, 19-Dec-2003) <2>

During a watching brief on groundworks taking place at Birmingham Road the approximate course of the town ditch was established at this point: it was also established that the feature had been truncated by modern activity. It was discovered that early deposits associated with the town defences had survived in this area. (LH, 21-Jan-2008) <3>

The northern lip of the 12th century city ditch was revealed in two sections across the site of the former Hartshorn Inn (PRN 03945), on the west side of St. John's Street near the site of Culstubb Gate (PRN 03615). The ditch sections contained residual medieval pottery and much of 18th century date. There was no evidence for an internal bank. (DAL, 25/03/2010) <4>

*This PRN is probably the same as PRN 05520: the medieval defences in the western part of the town were suggested to have been further to the south-west prior to finding evidence of a large medieval ditch in various excavations in Sandford Street*

The location of Castle Ditch can still be seen in the layout of field boundaries and roads running around the edge of Lichfield, described further northeast of the site as Castle Dyke and forming part of the earlier parish boundary. (RH, 27-June-2016) <5>

Sources and further reading

---	SST4595 - Excavation Report: Dave Pinnock (On Site Archaeology Ltd). 2008. Birmingham Road, Lichfield: Report on an Archaeological Evaluation.
<1>	SST2660 - Serial: South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society. 1982. South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Transactions 1980-1981 (Volume XXII). 'Medieval Lichfield: A Topographical Review' by S. R. Bassett, page 112ff.
<2>	SST1303 - Serial: Society for Medieval Archaeology. 1987. Medieval Archaeology Volume XXXI (1987). Volume 31 - page 159 (Number 186).
<3>	SST4385 - Watching Brief Report: Dave Pinnock (On Site Archaeology Ltd). 2007. Birmingham Road, Lichfield: Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief. Pages 13 and 14.
<4>	SST2914 - Serial: CBA West Midlands (J. Willis - Editor). 1986. West Midlands Archaeology 29 (1986). 'Lichfield: St. John Street' by Andrew Simpson, pages 31-35 (October 1986).
<5>	SST4911 - Desk Based Assessment Report: Joshua T. Hogue and Catriona Cooper (Allen Archaeology Ltd). 2015. Archaeological Desk Based Assessment: Beatrice Court 30 - 36 St. John Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire.

Related records

03615	Parent of: Culstubb Gate, Lichfield (Monument)
05520	Parent of: Possible Town Ditch Remains, Sandford Street, Lichfield (Monument)
02351	Part of: Lichfield Town / Borough (Monument)

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