Monument Type(s):

• (Alternate Type) BRIDGE? (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1540 AD?)
• CULVERT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1901 AD)
• WALL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

A wall of medieval date initially interpreted, in 1905, as the termination of a culvert. This wall, recorded in evaluation on this site in 1997 was reinterpreted as possibly part of a medieval bridge.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA3798 - 1905 observation by J A Morris
• ESA4908 - 1996 DBA and buildings assessment of land between Victoria Avenue and Lower Claremont Bank, Shrewsbury by Richard K Morriss & Associates
• ESA4905 - 1997 evaluation of land at St Austin's Friars and Lower Claremont Bank, Shrewsbury by SCCAS

Description

Length of wall shown on Morris's 1905 MS plan of discoveries in the Austin Friars/Morris's Bakery site area shown as wall 'G', straddling the line of the culvert, with the legend 'End of the ancient culvert which brought the sewage from the centre of the town; and discharged it into the Mud-holes. Also position of masonry wall' [<1>]. On the plan, the line of the culvert to the north of this wall is marked 'culvert continued to the river', in distinction from the ' ancient culvert' label applied to the south. It seems probable that this wall marked the north termination of the 'old' (= pre-19th-century) culvert, its effluent making its way to the river in an old watercourse, arguably the town ditch, and later, when the Mudholes area was finally cleaned up, the culvert was extended in brick down to the river. This may complement anecdotal evidence to the effect that part of the culvert is brick, part of it stone. This entry may require revision if or when the report of the 1997 SCCAU excavation is made available <2>

Plotted on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map by Richard K Morriss from J A Morris' notes. Culvert (PRN 62557) also marked. <3>

A programme of archaeological evaluation, comprising three trial trenches was undertaken at St Austin's Friars and Lower Claremont Bank, Shrewsbury. A medieval sandstone wall was seen in trench C, running west across the line of the stream course. An inspection chamber recently cut to give access into the culvert in which the stream now flows (Mr A J Onions, pers. comm.) revealed this sandstone wall spanning the stream with an arch. J A Morris appears to have seen part of this wall in 1905 [<1>] and concluded that it coincided with the northern end of the stone-built section of the stream culvert. However, the south face of the wall seen in the evaluation trench and the inspection chamber was roughly faced, suggesting it may have formed the southern side of a structure which bridged the stream to the north of this point. The angle tower in the town wall (PRN 01460) is thought to have become a postern gate in the later medieval period giving access to the land between the town walls and the river. It is possible then that this sandstone wall represents the south side of a medieval bridge, now buried, across the stream course. <4>

<01> Morris J A, 1901/ 1905, Annotated maps (Map). SSA10384.

<02> Baker Nigel J, UAD Analysis (SMR comment). SSA20432.

<03> Morriss Richard K, 1996, The Welsh Bridge Development, Shrewsbury: an Archaeological Desk-top Study, fig.7 (Deskbased survey report). SSA10661.

<04> Hannaford Hugh R, 1997, An archaeological evaluation at St Austin's Friars and Lower Claremont Bank, Shrewsbury, Trench C (Excavation report). SSA20919.

Sources

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