Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The city walls were mainly built in the 13th and 14th century, though they incorporate some remains of the Roman walls. There are four surviving stretches of the wall above ground. Scheduled.

Monument Types

• TOWN (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD (between))
• TOWN DEFENCES (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• TOWN DEFENCES (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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[Centred TQ742686] The Roman Town wall at Rochester was recognised by Payne as the core in parts of the extant medieval fortifications. Payne traced the whole of the course except for a short length in the north-west. In Bishops Ermilf's time [early 12th c.] the south side of the Roman wall was partly destroyed and a boundary was built diagonally across the ditch. In 1225 a great ditch was dug and in the south this necessitated the building of a new wall, the foundations of which have been traced underground, 120 ft. from the line of the old Roman wall. In 1344 another wall was built outside 1225 line but the ditch outside was never completed. Scheduled. [Livett's plan has proved generally acceptable but innacuracies have been noted.] [Hope's evidence, particularly in respect of the conjectural line in St. Margarets street, has been preferred] (1-7) Some excavations have been carried out on the City Wall and ditch in the vicinity of the Deanery Garden (TQ 74336841) by Mr. A.C. Harrison of The Lower Medway Arch. Research Group; full results are to be published. In the light of this work, some revision of Livetts and Hope's reconstructions may be necessary. For details, see map diagram. See GPs AO/51/43/4-6 (8) Report of 1960-66 excavations of Md defences. (9) Town Walls. Grade I. Partial survival of Mediaeval city walls; battlements and good angle tower in Free School Lane. (10) Additional bibliography. (11-22) (For component records of Medieval sites in Rochester see TQ 76 NW: 93, 94, 95, 97, 98 and 99). Rochester City Walls (formerly listed as the Town Walls). City walls. Mainly C13 and C14, incorporating Roman remains, with later patching and partial rebuilding. [Full architectural description] LISTED GRADE I. Scheduled Ancient Monument. (23) In 1086 Rochester was a city. In 1227 a charter of Henry III granted to the citizens of Rochester a merchant guild, the fee-farm of the city and other privileges. In 1446 Rochester was incorporated. (24) Additional bibliography: (25-26-27)

ESPLANADE PORTION SHOWING ROMAN CORE WITH NORMAN AND 13TH C (Photograph). SKE1389.

ESPLANADE PORTION SHOWING ROMAN CORE WITH NORMAN AND 13TH C (Photograph). SKE1389.

<1> Arch Cant 21 1895 1-72 plan (G Payne) (GN Livett) (OS Card Reference). SKE34823.

<2> VCH Kent 3 1932 81 plan (OS Card Reference). SKE51136.

<3> Arch Cant 76 1961 Lxxiv (AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE35606.

<4> Arch Cant 77 1962 xlix (OS Card Reference). SKE35623.

<5> Arch Cant 78 1963 liv (OS Card Reference). SKE35650.

<6> Arch J 109 1953 104 (OS Card Reference). SKE36528.

<7> Hist of The Kings Works II 1963 808 811 (MOW) (OS Card Reference). SKE44046.

<8> F1 ASP 03.01.65 (OS Card Reference). SKE41900.

<9> Arch Cant 83 1968 55-104 (AC Harrison & C Flight) (OS Card Reference). SKE35778.

<10> DOE (HHR) City of Rochester 1969 3 (OS Card Reference). SKE40161.

<11> Lower Med Arch Res Grp Newsletter 37 1965 1 (AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE46183.

<12> Arch Cant 79 1964 LVIII-LIX (AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE35676.

<13> Arch Cant 87 1972 121-157 (AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE35880.

<14> MOW Excavs 1969 30 (AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE47351.

<15> Med Arch 14 1970 182-3 (DM Wilson and DG Hurst) (OS Card Reference). SKE46730.

<16> Arch Ang Sax Eng 1976 106 (DM Wilson) (OS Card Reference). SKE34475.

<17> Ang Sax Towns in S Eng 1984 12-16 figs (J Haslam) (OS Card Reference). SKE33071.

<18> Arch Cant 92 1976 253 (AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE36104.

<19> Arch Cant 85 1970 96-98 191 (AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE35831.

<20> Arch Cant 97 1981 95-136 (AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE36302.

<21> CBA Res Rep 14 The Plans and Topography of Md towns in Eng and Wales 1976 2 6 57 59 plan 66 (MW Barl (OS Card Reference). SKE38790.

<22> Arch Cant 91 1975 211-12 (AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE36057.

<23> DOE(HHR)City of Rochester upon Medway, Kent. 2 (2.12.91) (OS Card Reference). SKE41291.

<24> M.W. Beresford and H.P.R. Finberg, 1973, English medieval boroughs : a hand-list, Page Nos. 130 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6331.

<25> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Rochester City Wall: photographic and drawn survey, vol. 1 description, CAT, 1993. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<26> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Rochester City Wall: photographic and drawn survey, vol. 2 photographic register, CAT, 1993. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<27> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1995, City Walls Rochester: Rectified Photography (Reduced Copies) November 1995 (Unpublished document). SKE7005.

Sources and further reading

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