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Summary

Arundel Tower is at the north-west corner of the town walls. It used to be thought that the tower was built in the early-to-mid 13th century, however a late 13th century date (1260-91) is now preferred for the initial construction. The limited archaeological evidence from SOU 272 suggests it was built in about 1300. The tower was substantially remodelled in the late 14th century (after 1377) when the western town wall was built; the tower is named after Sir John Arundel who was governor of Southampton Castle at this time. The parapet may have been remodelled in the early 16th century to incorporate a gun embrasures.

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1001927
• Listed Building (I) 1340005: TOWN WALLS: SECTION OF WALL RUNNING WEST FROM BARGATE TO ARUNDEL TOWER AND THEN SOUTH TO POINT JUST SOUTH OF CASTLE WATER GATE. IT INCLUDES ARUNDEL TOWER, CATCHCOLD TOWER, GARDEROBE TOWER, THE 40 STEPS, CASTLE WATER GATE & CASTLE VAULT & THE TOWN WALLS

Other References/Statuses

• Old Southampton SMR No/Backup file: SU 4111 NE 35  

Monument Type(s):

• ANGLE TOWER (Built, Medieval - 1260 AD to 1300 AD)
• ARTILLERY TOWER (Altered, Medieval - 1260 AD to 1291 AD)
• ANGLE TOWER (Altered, Medieval - 1377 AD to 1399 AD)
• ANGLE TOWER (Altered, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1500 AD to 1550 AD)
• ARTILLERY TOWER (Altered, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1500 AD to 1550 AD)

Full description

Records for the town walls are currently being enhanced and it is intended that further details will be added to this description at a later date. The summary incorporates new information not yet included in this description. (SCC HER 11/12/09)
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[1]: Extract from Listed Building Description. TOWN WALLS - Section of wall running west from Bargate to Arundel Tower and then south to point just south of Castle Water Gate. It includes Arundel Tower, Catchcold Tower, Garderobe Tower, The 40 Steps, Castle Water Gate and Castle Vault (formerly listed as Section of Town Wall running from the point of junction with the Castle Wall just north of Simnel Street to its eastern termination just west of Bargate) (Grade I).
- Mediaeval City Walls. It includes the Arundel Tower, a round tower built early to Mid C13 with another stage added probably 1377-9 when Sir John Arundel was governor of the Castle. ... Scheduled as an ancient monument.
[Derived from English Heritage LBS download dated 19/08/2005. Crown Copyright. Reproduced under the terms of the Open Government Licence.]

[2]: SOU 272 Excavations: An irregularly shaped construction trench was exposed. The tower and the north town wall were apparently of one build, as they "shared" the construction trench. Some pottery, dating to c1300 AD, was recovered from the construction trench backfill. The excavator suggested the walls were therefore of this date.

HK 1/6/95: A date of 1300 or later might be inferred for the construction, as the pot could be residual.

[See also [3] for the results of SOU 272, not yet incorporated into this record.]

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESH272 - Excavation at Arundel Tower and along town walls between Arundel and Catchcold Towers in 1987 (Ref: SOU 272)

Related records

Associated Links

Images

Town wall and Arundel Tower, Bargate Street, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Town wall and Arundel Tower, Castle Way, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, Bargate Street, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, Bargate Street, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, Bargate Street - east gunport, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, Bargate Street, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, Bargate Street - north gunport, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, Bargate Street, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, Bargate Street, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower and spur work, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, spur work and town walls, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, spur work and town walls, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, spur work and town walls, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower and town walls, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Town wall between Bargate and Arundel Tower, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, spur work and west town wall, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, spur work and town wall, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, spur work and town wall, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, spur work, Catchcold Tower and west town wall, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, spur work and west town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, spur work and west town wall, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, Catchcold Tower and west town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower and spur work, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, Catchcold Tower and west town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower and spur work - detail, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower and spur work, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower and spur work, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower and spur work - detail, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Spur work at Arundel Tower - detail, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower and spur work, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower and spur work, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower and town wall from Forest View, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, Albion Place, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, spur work and town wall, Albion Place - detail, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, spur work and town wall, Albion Place - detail, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, Albion Place, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower and town wall, Albion Place, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower, west door, Albion Place, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower and spur work, Albion Place - detail, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower - interior, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower - interior, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower - interior, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower - interior, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower - interior, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower - interior, west door, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower - inside of west door, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
West walls from top of Arundel Tower, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	West town wall from top of Arundel Tower, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower - detail of embrasures at top of tower, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower - interior, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower - interior, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Arundel Tower - interior, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower - west door, Albion Place, 21.6.09, © I Peckham

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