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| HER Number: | MSH3156 |
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| Type of Record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Town Defences - postern gate in town walls at end of Blue Anchor Lane |
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| Grid Reference: | SU 4181 1129 |
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| Map: | Show location on Streetmap |
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Summary
The postern gate is situated in the town wall at the west end of Blue Anchor Lane, known as Whytegod’s Lane in the 14th century and Lord’s Lane in 1611. The lane and gate provided the most direct route from West Quay to the fish market in what is now St Michael’s Square. Gates on western shore are mentioned in the late 13th century, and a gate known as the postern certainly existed here in 1360 before the town wall was built. After 1360 the gate may have been strengthened and a portcullis added. Putlog holes above the gate on the inside may be evidence of an internal timber gatehouse. The town wall here (known as the Arcades) consists of a curtain wall formed partly by the walls of earlier houses, with an arched arcade in front built in about 1380 (see MSH919); the gate is in the curtain wall rather than the arcade. In the post-medieval period the portcullis was removed and the gateway widened somewhat, although the surviving structure is thought to be largely original. The area outside the gate was archaeologically excavated during the Arcades excavation of 1987/1989 (SOU 301).
Protected Status: None recorded
Other Statuses/Codes: None Recorded
Monument Type(s):
- GATE (Built, Medieval - 1250 AD? to 1360 AD)
- POSTERN (Built, Medieval - 1250 AD? to 1360 AD)
- GATEHOUSE (?built, Medieval - 1360 AD to 1377 AD)
- POSTERN (?altered, Medieval - 1360 AD to 1377 AD)
- TOWN GATE (?altered, Medieval - 1360 AD to 1377 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 8/12/09)
Sources / Further Reading
| --- | SSH3086 - Unpublished document: Ancient Monument File AM34 - Western Arcades (Town Walls). |
| --- | SSH3091 - Unpublished document: Ancient Monument File AM4 - Blue Anchor Lane. |
Associated Finds: None recorded
Associated Events: None recorded
Related records
| MSH14 | Child of: Town Defences - town wall, towers and gates |
Associated Links: None recorded
Images
 The Arcades, Western Esplanade - 16th arcade (working southwards), Blue Anchor postern gate, 21.6.09, © I Peckham |  The Arcades, Western Esplanade - Blue Anchor postern gate, 21.6.09, © I Peckham |
 Interior of Blue Anchor postern gate and town wall, etc, from Blue Anchor Lane, 21.6.09, © I Peckham |  Interior of Blue Anchor postern gate and town wall, etc, from Blue Anchor Lane, 21.6.09, © I Peckham |
 Blue Anchor postern gate - detail, 21.6.09, © I Peckham |  Inside of town wall north of King John's Palace, 21.6.09, © I Peckham |
 The Arcades, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © 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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