Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1300 to 1399 Sudbury Tower, 14th century, part of the city fortifications. One of the towers attached to the city walls, now restored and converted into a small house.

Monument Types

• TOWER (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1399 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NW 154:
[TR 14695819] Sudbury Tower [NR]. (1) Built by Archbishop Sudbury c1381. (2) Complete; meeting place of Canterbury Arch Soc. (3) Sudbury Tower, No 6 Pound Lane. Grade II. Part of the City fortifications, 14thc restored. One of the tower attached to the city walls, now converted into a small house. (4-5) Tower 20. Square, preserved. One of six medieval towers between North Gate [TR 15 NE 160] and West Gate [TR 15 NW 155]. (6)

The Canterbury UAD states that it is known as Sudbury Tower after Archbishop Simon Sudbury who partly financed the rebuilding of 'the long wall' between Westgate and Northgate, though he was probably dead before the work here took place. He was murdered at Tower Hill, London in 1381 during the Peasant's Revolt. (7)
Tower 20, is a square shaped tower, forming part of the medieval city defences, that still survives and today is used as a private dwelling. It is known as Sudbury Tower after Archbishop Simon Sudbury who partly financed the rebuilding of 'the long wall' between Westgate and Northgate, though he was probably dead before the work here took place. He was murdered at Tower Hill, London in 1391 during the Peasant's Revolt. (8)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 POUND LANE
No 6 (Sudbury Tower) TR 1458 SE 2/98 3.12.49.
II GV
2. Part of the City fortifications. C14, restored. One of the towers attached to the city walls, non converted into a small house. Squat square tower of 3 storeys, built of flints with stone quoins and a castellated parapet. 3 C15 windows containing 2 blunt cirquefoil-headed lights in each with hood moulding above, To the south west is a portion of the City Wall, about 12 ft high, capped with tiles and having a recast entrance set into it.
Wool Stores to South West of No 6 & Nos 6 to 12 (consec) form a group.
Listing NGR: TR1469958194 (9)

<1> OS 1:2500 (OS Card Reference). SKE48196.

<2> Arch J 86 1930 243 270-8 (G Home) (OS Card Reference). SKE36731.

<3> F1 FGA 27-JAN-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE42991.

<4> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 203 (OS Card Reference). SKE40035.

<5> Hist Builds Survey Cant City Council/RCHME 57033 6 of 6 (OS Card Reference). SKE43875.

<6> Arch of Cant 2 1982 23 plan (SS Frere S Stow and P Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE36828.

<7> Elder, J. & Duncan, M., 2002, Canterbury City Wall Trail (Monograph). SKE29730.

<8> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1997, No 12 Pound Lane (Article in serial). SKE30772.

<9> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

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