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. © Southampton City Council
| HER Number: | MSH17 |
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| Type of Record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Town Defences - former Notebeme's Tower/Notebeme Tower/Notebeem Tower (Watchbell Tower) |
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| Grid Reference: | SU 4200 1094 |
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| Map: | Show location on Streetmap |
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Summary
Notebeme Tower was a half-round tower situated on the southern town wall between Gods House Gate and Watergate. It was probably built between 1321 and 1341, most likely after 1339, along with the adjacent town wall. It was called Notebeme Tower in the 15th century when it was leased to Isabella Notebeme. In the 1454 defence terrier it is also referred to as the Watchbell Tower and it had three defensive loops. In later centuries it is referred to as the Watch Tower, Watch Bell and Watch House. It was reached by a stair which led onto the town wall wall-walk; this stair seems to have been near Watergate. The watch bell was removed before 1718. The tower is shown in late 18th century illustrations. In 1801 Englefield described it as a “large and high turret”, with the sea at its foot. The tower was demolished in 1803/4 along with the town wall and Watergate. Archaeological work in 1994/6 prior to the construction of Notebeme House (SOUs 607 and 715) revealed the foundations of the tower.
Protected Status: None recorded
Other References/Statuses
- Old Southampton SMR No/Backup file: SU 4210 NW 21 Also SU 4110 NE 17
Monument Type(s):
Full description
Records for the town defences are currently being enhanced and it is intended that further details will be added to this description at a later date. (SCC HER 4/12/09)
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[1][2]: The base of a half-round tower, was found on SOU 607 T2 and SOU 715 T5. It is probably the corner tower shown on Speed's 1611 map at roughly this location, and variously referred to in medieval documents as Notebeem Tower, Watchbell Tower or the Watch Tower. It was built in the 14th century. (See reports for full discussion.)
(GIS: polygon roughly plotted using figures in reports.)
Sources / Further Reading
| --- | SSH3063 - Unpublished document: Ancient Monument File AM11 - Gods House Tower and Gate. |
| --- | SSH3103 - Unpublished document: Ancient Monument File AM50 - Views: Distances and Shores, etc. |
| [1] | SSH219 - Archaeological Report: MF Garner. 1995. Report on the Surveys and Evaluation Excavation at the Sun Public House, Southampton.. SOU 607. All |
| [2] | SSH274 - Archaeological Report: MF Garner. 1996. Excavation and Watching Brief at 84 High Street, Southampton. SOU 715. All |
| [3] | SSH591 - Serial: Morton, AD (ed), SCC. 1995. Archaeological Investigations in Southampton for 1994. ? |
Associated Finds: None recorded
Associated Events
- ESH1207 - Evaluation excavation at the Sun Public House in 1994 (Ref: SOU 607)
- ESH715 - Excavation and watching brief prior to building of Notebeme House in 1995-6 (Ref: SOU 715)
Related records
| MSH14 | Child of: Town Defences - town wall, towers and gates |
| MSH626 | Peer (Chronological): 84 High Street - 19th Century Phase (Sun Inn, Sun Public House) |
| MSH625 | Peer (Chronological): 84 High Street - Other Medieval Evidence |
| MSH1090 | Peer (Chronological): 84 High Street - Phase Pre-dating the Town Defences |
Associated Links: None recorded
Images
 Tower House, Solent House and other buildings, Town Quay, 30.8.09 (camera date not set), © I Peckham |  Eastgate House and other buildings, Town Quay, 30.8.09 (camera date not set), © I Peckham |
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