Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Bury St Edmunds
Hob Uid: 382550
Location : Suffolk West Suffolk Bury St. Edmunds
Grid Ref : TL8520063700
Summary : The town was founded after the enshrinement of the body of St Edmunds in the royal vill in 903 AD. A Benedictine order built an Abbey (TL 86 SE 39) and a cathedral (TL 86 SE 40). and was given special jurisdiction over the vill and surrounding lands. Under monastic guidance the town was laid out on a Norman grid iron plan which obliterated all pre-conquest features. The towns defences consisting of a wall and four gates which were built in the 12th century by the sacrist Radilph Hervey. The town gates were later demolished for access reasons.
More information : (TL 85256377) West Gate (NR) (site of) (NAT). (TL 85196442)Risby Gate (NR) (site of) (NAT). (TL 85776437)East Gate (NR) (site of) (NAT). (1) The Medieval walled town of Bury St Edmunds was founded after the enshrinement of the body of St Edmunds in the royal vill of Beodricsworthe, 903 AD, later called St Edmundsbury or Bury St Edmunds. A Benedictine monastic order, founded in 1020 AD built an Abbey (TL 86 SE 39) and a Cathedral (TL 86 SE 40) at Bury St Edmunds and was given special jurisdiction over the vill and surrounding lands. It was under their guidance that the Medieval Town layout, on a Norman grid iron pattern, was adopted obliterating all pre conquest features. The towns defences consists of a wall linking the North, West and Risby gates, built in the 12th century by the sacrist Raduplh Hervey; the West gate was linked to the Southgate by a ditch. The eastern side of the town was protected by a ditch linking the South Gate to the East Gate, which is at the bridging point of the river Lark, and marshland susceptable to flooding provided a natural defense between the East and North Gates. The town gates were demolished for access reasons. See Map Diagram. (2-3) The Domesday book records that between 1065 and 1086 the town had been extended over land previously ploughed and sown and had doubled in population. This article deals with the gridded area of the town giving alls its breakdown into main units and sub units, measurements are done in poles. The new pattern may have been restricted by pre-existing boundaries. (4)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 1:2500 1961
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Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : Bury St Edmunds 1935 (M D Lobel)
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Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 161-189
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Vol(s) : 108 - 1951

Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : (Crummy, P)
Page(s) : 149-61
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Vol(s) : 72 - 1979

Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : Medieval Towns in England and Wales (ed) Barley
Page(s) : 58-9
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Plates :
Vol(s) : 14 - 1975

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Founded in 903
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date : 903
Monument Type : Town
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : 12th century defences
Monument End Date : 1199
Monument Start Date : 1100
Monument Type : Town, Town Defences
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TL 86 SE 55
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1990-01-01
End Date : 1990-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1992-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2000-01-01
End Date : 2000-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2005-01-01
End Date : 2005-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2010-01-01
End Date : 2010-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2011-01-01
End Date : 2011-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2011-01-01
End Date : 2011-12-31