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Medieval town defences, rampart, measuring approximately 23ft high, 6,714ft long and enclosing 133 acres. It included 10 gates and 16 towers.
1261 Henry III ordered a wall and moat to be built due to the Simon de Montfort rebellion. However, work started 24 years later.
1284 Started.
1349 Work on the wall stopped due to the Black Death.
1369 Edward III ordered the townspeople to pay towards the construction of the town defences owing to corruption of the funds.
14th C Completed.
1545 Henry III instructed the Duke of Norfolk to demolish houses which had been built against the walls. The Duke of Norfolk inspected the defences and found they were in need of repair.
1553-1558 During: Additional works were added.
1587 Defences modified.
1588 A walk was made on the rampart.
16th C Earth embankment constructed west of the town wall which stood approximately 10.5ft high.
1625 Inspected under orders of Charles I. They were in a bad state of repair and were strengthened.
1642 The town followed Parliament and was put in a state of defence. Houses against the town walls were taken down, the gates were repaired, locked and well guarded.
1642 23rd December: The town had to pay £1,200 for the fortifications.
1643 October: The town was defended by a company of soldiers.
17th C The sixteenth century earth embankment was widened.
18th C No longer used as a defence.
1972-1973 Northgate Street excavated.
1978-1980 Priory Plain excavated.
1984 General Hospital excavated.
1986 Mount excavated.
1994 Lancaster Street excavated.
1995 Pudding Gate and west of King Henry’s Tower surveyed.
1996 Watching Brief of southern part.
1997 St. Nicholas churchyard excavated.
1997 Watching Brief at St. Nicholas churchyard.
1998 Market Gates Shopping Centre evaluated.