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Monument details
| HER Number: | TR 34 SW 18 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Town Wall (course of) - probable 14th c |
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Summary
It is probable that Dover was not walled until the 14th century as no repairs to the gates are recorded until the 15th century. Nothing now remains of the defences, whose extent is known from plans only. The southern line appears to have run from a point east of Eastbrook gate "across the former Woolcomber Street" along Town Wall Street and Snorgate Street, turning north to cross Ardian Street; there were three gates in the western wall, which curved east over the Folkestone road to cross Canon Street and then turned south through Pencester Gardens to return to the southern wall. Nothing remains above ground today
Full description
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It is probable that Dover was not walled until the 14th c as no repairs to the gates are recorded until the 15th c. (1) Sites of gates were as follows:- ['A' TR 32264147] Easterbrook Gate (TR 34 SW 188) [GT] (Site of) (2) ['B' TR 32184140] St Helen's Gate (TR 34 SW 189) [GT] (Site of) (2) ['C' TR 32114133] Conjectural site of Postern or Fisher's Gate (TR 34 SW 190) (3) ['D' TR 32074130] Butchery Gate (TR 34 SW 191) [GT] (Site of) (2) ['E' TR 32014126] Boldware Gate (TR 34 SW 192) [GT] (Site of) (2) ['F' TR 31894119] Snar Gate (TR 34 SW 193) [GT] (Site of) (2) ['G' TR 31874122] Adrian Gate (TR 34 SW 194) (3) More correctly Upwall Gate (1) (Site of) ['H' TR 31824136] Cow Gate (TR 34 SW 195) (Site of) (3) ['J' TR 31824143] St Martin's Gate (TR 34 SW 196) (Site of) (3) ['K' TR 31874153] Biggin Gate (TR 34 SW 197) [GT] (Site of) (2) ['L' TR 32074143] Foundations of tower found. Probable site of gate (3) at Dolphin Lane. Course of wall shown (3). There is no evidence that these it overlay the defences of the Saxon Shore Fort. [See TR 34 SW 2] (1-4) There are no traces of wall or gates. Tablets mark the sites of Snar Gate, Cow Gate, and Biggin Gate. Where Wheelers' plan (auth 4) differs from Batchellers' plan (auth 3) between Snar Gate and Cow Gate, Wheeler is probably in error. (5) During building clearance in 1962, foundations of the town wall were encountered along the S side of Townwall Street, from the River Dour to Newbridge. Walling, 6-8 ft thick, of chalk block, flint and mortarwas exposed. The S face was heavily waterworn. At Newbridge, the wall turned S through 90 degrees for about 15 yds and then disappeared westwards under Newbridge by turning through another right angle. Foundations of Butchery Gate were encountered on the W bank of the Dour. The area has now been redeveloped. (6) (TR 3141) Town Wall, Dover. (Murage grants testify to the construction of Medieval walls between 1324 and 1483). Nothing now remains of the defences, whose extent is known from plans only. The southern line appears to have run from a point east of Eastbrook gate "across the former Woolcomber Street" along Town Wall Street and Snorgate Street, turning north to cross Ardian Street; there were three gates in the western wall, which curved east over the Folkestone road to cross Canon Street and then turned south through Pencester Gardens to return to the southern wall. Nothing remains above ground today, but even Leland seems to have been uncertain whether the town was completely walled. (7)
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