| Summary : Medieval borough, mentioned in document dated 1194. Four substantial gates stood at St Mary's Bridge, St Sepulchre Gate, Hall Gate and Sunn bar. A town ditch and earthen rampart defended the town. A large market place lay in the south east corner of the town, which lay close to the wharf, and was nationally famous. |
More information :
SE 5740 0335. Medieval borough of Doncaster.
At Doncaster the Normans reoccupied an old Roman site (see SE 50
SE/7) at a strategic crossing point of the river Don. A motte and
bailey castle was built (see SE 50 SE/8) over the fort of Danum and
the later anglo-saxon burgh (see SE 50 SE/44). The town itself was
laid out over the Roman civilian settlement. Richard I's borough
charter confirmed the towns existing privileges in 1194, and a royal
charter, which extended the fair from two to three days extended the
existing market rights. Burgage plots have been traced along
Frenchgate, High Street, St Sepulchre Gate, Baxter Gate and Scott
Lane. The street pattern in the centre of the town was largely
moulded by the town ditch and the earthen rampart created beside it.
In the middle ages water from the Cheswold (the original course of
the river Don) flowed along this ditch which was not in-filled until
1734.
Four substantial stone gates stood at St Mary's bridge, St Sepulchre
Gate, Hall Gate and Sunn Bar, marking the entrances to the town. An
enormous market place lay in the south east corner of the town, which
lay close to the wharf. The marketplace formed an extension of the
churchyard of the original parish church of St Mary Magdalene, which
stood on the site now occupied by the Victorian Corn Exchange. The
market at Doncaster became nationally famous and served both the
traffic from the river, and the traffic from the Great North Road.
(1)
The charter of Richard I was granted to Doncaster in 1194 granting to
the burgesses of Doncaster their soke, together with the right to
hold the vill of Doncaster for 5 marks in addition to the ancient
farm. (2-2a)
In 1467, the borough was incorporated. (2b) |