Summary

Excavations near the junction of Fleet Street and Spon Street found evidence of the medieval town wall and ditch as well as a structure with a flagstone floor.

Monument Type(s):

• TOWN DITCH (Earlier Medieval to Victorian - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• STRUCTURE (Constructed, Later Medieval - 1391 AD to 1399 AD (between))
• TOWN DEFENCES (Constructed, Later Medieval - 1391 AD to 1399 AD (between))
• TOWN WALL (Constructed, Later Medieval - 1391 AD to 1399 AD (between))

Protected Status

• Conservation Area: Spon Street Conservation Area

Full description

1> City walls and ditch. Remains revealed during reconstruction of city walls.
Constructed between 1391-99, replaced older boundary. At N end of truncated
section lay sandstone flag floor contemporary with wall. Evidence suggests
it belonged to some structure behind wall. Mason's Marks found on stone.
Excavation did not locate position of Spon Gate, but helped to further
establish line of wall and its probable location.

2> c. 1385 work began on the Spon Street/Cheylesmore sector of the Town Wall, and the excavation produced two types of foundation. The northern foundation was built upon the natural and was wider than the south foundation. Both foundations were built of random sandstones bonded with clay and earth with lime mortar on the upper levels. It seems likely that the Gate (north foundation) was built first with a ditch and bank system running to the bar or gate at Greyfriars. The bank was replaced by the wall (south foundation) when the money became available. A new ditch was created by piling rubbish and clay earth against the new foundations. This bank was later revetted to stop slippage.

3> CARP excavated a section across line of medieval Town Wall close to recorded position of Spon Gate.
This section of wall was constructed in last decade of the 14th century. A
well-stratified sequence from late 12th century to 20th century was recovered, commencing with
a series of pre-wall ditches of uncertain function, and remains of a timber
building on post pads, sealed by make-up layers prior to construction of
wall. An important feature was division of wall material into town wall and
edge of gate-bastion. Above the medieval ditch infill was good evidence of
enhancement of the defences during Civil War, and their infilling when
walls were slighted in 1662. Finally, an excellent sequence of building
layers completed site to 1964, when it was levelled. Finds include leather,
wood, ceramics and metalwork, which, due to quality of stratigraphy, will
prove to be extremely important.

4> Chronological tables sheets summarising the archaeological evidence excavated for each period.

5> SMR record sheet with plan attached showing the location of the excavated area.

<1> Coventry Museums Archaeology Unit, 1990, Excavation in Fleet St/Spon Street 1987 and 1990, - (--EXCAVATION REPORT). SCT415.

<2> Coventry Archaeological Rescue Project, 1988, Coventry Archaeological Rescue Project: Summary of Projects No. 1, 1987-88, Excavation at Fleet Street FS87 87/35 (-REPORT). SCT1367.

<3> Rylatt M; Wallwork R, 1987, Coventry, Fleet Street, 30; 64 (--ARTICLE). SCT492.

<4> Wallwork R, 1987, Excavation Across Medieval Defences Prior To Development, Fleet Street, 1987: Chronological Tables Sheets (TEXT). SCT1927.

<5> West Midlands SMR Record Sheet, SMR4609 (TEXT). SCT1987.

Sources and Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• ECT17 - Fleet Street/Spon Street 1987-90
• ECT680 - Conservation Management Plan Condition Survey for Medieval Defences

Related records

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