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Summary

The part of the town wall just south of Catchcold Tower was almost certainly built in the late 14th century, after 1377/1378. The north end of this section of wall was probably rebuilt when Catchcold Tower (MSH52) was built in the early 15th century (about 1420); a slight change in the stonework is visible on the external, west face of the wall. The flight of stone steps called Forty Steps (MSH230) was built against this part of the town wall in the 19th century.

Protected Status

• 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
• Scheduled Monument 1001927: Town wall: section from 75 yards (70m) East of Arundel Tower to limit of castle site including Arundel and Catchcold Towers

Other References/Statuses

• Old Southampton SMR No/Backup file: SU 4111 NE 39  

Monument Type(s):

• CURTAIN WALL (Built, Medieval - 1377 AD to 1399 AD)
• TOWN WALL (Built, Medieval - 1377 AD to 1399 AD)
• CURTAIN WALL (partially rebuilt, Medieval - 1410 AD to 1430 AD)
• TOWN WALL (partially rebuilt, Medieval - 1410 AD to 1430 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 8/12/09)
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[1]: 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.
(This section of wall is not specifically mentioned in the description itself, although "40 Steps" - MSH230 - is mentioned. SCC HER)

SOU 409 (Excavations at and near Catchcold Tower in 1989 and 1990):
[2] SOU 409 Results, 1990: Archaeological work on Catchcold Tower was undertaken as part of a programme to landscape and enhance the wall walk area between Arundel Tower and Forty Steps, reducing the ground level in this area. This level reduction exposed the wall walk (in a fairly intact state) on both the north and south sides of Catchcold Tower itself.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESH409 - Excavations at and near Catchcold Tower in 1989 and 1990 (Ref: SOU 409)

Related records

Associated Links: None recorded

Images

Catchcold Tower and town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Catchcold Tower and town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Catchcold Tower, Forty Steps and west town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Forty Steps, town wall and Garderobe Tower, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Catchcold Tower, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Catchcold Tower and town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Catchcold Tower and town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Catchcold Tower and town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Catchcold Tower and town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Wall walk between Forty Steps and Catchcold Tower, Albion Place, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Wall walk south of Catchcold Tower, Albion Place, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Forty Steps and Garderobe Tower from Albion Place, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Wall walk south of Catchcold Tower, Albion Place, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Wall walk between Catchcold Tower and Forty Steps, Albion Place, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, Catchcold Tower and Forty Steps from Forest View, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Catchcold Tower and Forty Steps from the Garderobe Tower, Forest View, 21.6.09, © I Peckham
Arundel Tower, Catchcold Tower, Forty Steps and town wall, Western Esplanade, 21.6.09, © I Peckham	Catchcold Tower, Forty Steps and town wall between, 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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