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Summary

The northern town wall between the second tower east of Bargate and Polymond Tower was probably built in the late 13th century, between 1260 and 1291, along with the rest of the northern wall. This part of the town wall survives for its entire length and still has a wall-walk, although the parapet wall has been rebuilt and no features such as defensive “loops” survive.

Archaeological excavations took place either side of this stretch of wall between 1986 and 1991 (SOU 175 Trenches 10, 11, 12, 14, 15C).
- Three small trenches were dug against the north/outside of the town wall, and the wall footings investigated. Trench 10 was some way east of the second tower; here the wall footings were shallow and rubbly. In Trench 11, between York Buildings and Polymond Tower, the base of the wall footings stepped down twice below the sills of the probable postern gate (MSH3121). In Trench 12, in the angle between the north town wall and Polymond Tower, the footings of both the town wall and tower were revealed. These may originally have been one build, however evidence was found of an almost total rebuild of the tower. .
- Excavations also took place all along the south/inside of this stretch of town wall (Trenches 14 and 15C). Here, medieval rampart and later deposits survived against the face of the town wall. Trench 14 was located between York Buildings and the eastern town wall. Before work started, this area was a raised garden with a retaining wall to the south; property leases showed that this garden was created in the 18th century. Deep modern, early modern and post-medieval deposits were removed down to a possible late medieval, post-rampart surface; this reduced the overall level by about 4.5m, roughly the level of the nearby streets, and the retaining wall was removed. The construction trench of the northern town wall appeared to cut some rampart or post-rampart layers of possible high medieval date. The footings of the northern town wall were butted by (so earlier than) the south/back wall of Polymond Tower, itself a later addition to the tower (the footings of the circular tower were not exposed in this trench).
- No conclusive dating evidence was found for the construction of the northern town wall or Polymond Tower, although they probably date to the high medieval period (1220-1350).

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1001926
• Listed Building (I) 1340006: TOWN WALLS: SECTION OF WALL RUNNING WEST FROM POLYMOND TOWER TO REMAINS OF SEMI-CIRCULAR TOWER TO EAST OF BARGATE AND SMALL PART SOUTH OF POLYMOND TOWER

Other References/Statuses

• HER backup file (new series): SOU 624  (paper & digital)
• Old Southampton SMR No/Backup file: SU 4211 NW 56  

Monument Type(s):

• CURTAIN WALL (Built, Medieval - 1260 AD to 1291 AD)
• CURTAIN WALL (extant, Medieval to Modern - 1260 AD? to 2050 AD)
• TOWN WALL (Built, Medieval - 1260 AD to 1291 AD)
• TOWN WALL (extant, Medieval to Modern - 1260 AD? to 2050 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)

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESH175 - Excavations at York Buildings (the Bargate Centre) and North Walls between 1983 and 1992 (Ref: SOU 175)
• ESH624 - Watching brief during the demolition of York Gate in 1961 (Ref: SOU 624)

Related records

Associated Links: None recorded

Images

Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Town wall west of Polymond Tower, York Walk, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Town wall west of Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham
Town wall west of Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham	Town wall west of Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham
Town wall west of Polymond Tower, York Walk, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Town wall west of Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham
Town wall west of Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham	Town wall west of Polymond Tower, York Walk, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Town wall west of Polymond Tower, York Walk, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Town wall west of Polymond Tower, York Walk, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Town wall west of Polymond Tower, York Walk, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Town wall west of Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham
Town wall west of Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham	Town wall west of Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham
North town wall and Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham	Town wall west of Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham
Town wall and Polymond Tower, 6/9/09, © I Peckham	Town wall west of Polymond Tower, York Walk, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Rampier ground inside town wall next to Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Rampier ground inside town wall next to Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Rampier ground inside town wall next to Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Rampier ground inside town wall next to Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Rampier ground inside town wall next to Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Rampier ground inside town wall next to Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Rampier ground inside town wall next to Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Rampier ground inside town wall next to Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Rampier ground inside town wall next to Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Rampier ground inside town wall next to Polymond Tower, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Town wall east of Bargate, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Rampier ground inside town wall east of York Gate, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Rampier ground inside town wall east of York Gate, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Rampier ground inside town wall east of York Gate, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Town wall east of Bargate, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Town wall east of Bargate, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Second tower east of Bargate, 31/8/09, © I Peckham	Second tower east of Bargate, 31/8/09, © I Peckham
Town wall east of Bargate, 31/8/09, © I Peckham

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