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Summary

This part of the eastern town wall has been almost entirely demolished above-ground, although a short section remains above-ground at the north end, although much altered. The date of the eastern town wall is uncertain. It could be broadly contemporary with the northern town wall, so probably of late 13th century date (1260 to 1291), however a mid-14th century or later date has also been suggested. The standing section of wall was recorded during an archaeological excavation at 72 – 74 Canal Walk in 2010 (SOU 1482).

Protected Status: None recorded

Other Statuses/Codes: None Recorded

Monument Type(s):

• CURTAIN WALL (Built, Medieval - 1260 AD? to 1291 AD?)
• TOWN WALL (Built, Medieval - 1260 AD? to 1291 AD?)
• CURTAIN WALL (Built, Medieval - 1325 AD? to 1375 AD?)
• TOWN WALL (Built, Medieval - 1325 AD? to 1375 AD?)

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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SOU 397 (evaluation excavation in 1989 and watching brief/excavation in 1990):

[6]: Town Wall exposed in evaluation Trench 2, in the southwest corner of the site. It had a shallow footing and survived as a single course of limestone blocks. The west wall of a 19th century stone cellar at the north side of the site followed the projected line of the town wall, but it had much brick within it and may have been built with robbed stone from the town wall.

HER 13/2/2020: [6] is a 2001 revision by P Cottrell of the original evaluation report by excavator T Robey, and contains some clear re-interpretations (for instance, as to survival or otherwise of town wall). It seems likely that [6] incorporates the results of the follow-on excavation and watching brief.
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SOU 1482 (excavation & watching brief on land at 72 – 74 Canal Walk in 2008-2011):
[5]: (Evidence all comes from the 2010 excavation, HER.)
Evidence was revealed relating to the construction of the medieval rampart and a tower of the town’s medieval defences (other records).

A short section of standing stone wall, aligned N/S, is located at the SW corner of the site. It was c1.8m long, c500mm wide, c2.2m high. East of the wall, no evidence was found for a foundation trench (there was a pavement to the west). It is built of limestone rubble and lime mortar. It is capped with bricks, probably 19th century, and each end has been replaced in brick and areas re-pointed with cement mortar. The east face is vertical and of roughly coursed rubble, although the upper part may have been roughly rebuilt. The west face is also vertical, but more uneven. (Photographs of east and west faces included in report.)

The projected alignment of the wall continues northwards to the west of the site, to the surviving section of town wall about 25m to the north (MSH2192). It is narrower than town wall MSH2192. It is suggested that the wall is a remnant of the town wall that had its west face removed and rebuilt, probably in the first half of the 19th century. No other traces of the town wall were present within the trench and any remains are likely lie beneath the modern pavement to the west.
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Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESH1865 - Excavation and watching brief at 72-74 Canal Walk between 2008 and 2011 (Ref: SOU 1482)
• ESH1307 - Watching Brief/Excavation at the Supreme Warehouse on Back of the Walls in 1990 (Ref: SOU 397)
• ESH1487 - Field Evaluation at site of the former Car Clinic premises on Back of the Walls in 2003 (Ref: SOU 1247)
• ESH1520 - Excavation at the site of the Car Clinic, Back of the Walls in 2003 (Ref: SOU 1282)
• ESH397 - Evaluation Excavation at the Supreme Warehouse on Back of the Walls in 1989 (Ref: SOU 397)

Related records

Associated Links: None recorded

Images

Line of demolished east town wall along Back of the Walls, north of Bernard Street, looking north, 6/9/09, © I Peckham	Old Bond Store and remants of east town wall, Back of the Walls south of East Street, looking north, 6/9/09, © I Peckham
Old Bond Store on line of demolished east town wall on Back of the Walls, 6/9/09, © I Peckham	Old Bond Store and section of stone wall, probably not part of town wall, Back of the Walls, 6/9/09, © I Peckham
Old Bond Store and section of stone wall, probably not part of town wall, Back of the Walls, 6/9/09, © I Peckham	Old Bond Store, Back of the Walls, 6/9/09, © I Peckham

If you have any feedback or new information about this record, please email the Southampton HER (her@southampton.gov.uk).

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