Bath Town Defences, AQUA SULIS

• Bath, Somerset
• Scheduled Monument – Monument Number 204122

 

Roman, Medieval town defences.

The Medieval defences followed the line of the Roman defences and covered an area of 23 acres.

Sixth Legion, Legio Sextae Victrix mentioned as being stationed in the town.

 

1^st C                             Defences built.

2^nd C                            Late: Defences of a rampart and ditch added.

846-899                       Between: Defended by King Alfred against the Vikings.

1138                             Walls still standing.

18^th C                           Some of the walls were removed.

1951                             Excavated by Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society.

1954                             Roman wall and ditch uncovered.

1963-1965                   Upper Borough walls excavated by Bath Excavation Committee.

1980                             Upper Borough walls excavated by Bath Archaeological Trust.

1988                             World Heritage Site.

1996                             Lower Borough walls excavated b y Bath Archaeological Trust – old city ditch recorded below the house.

Abbey Gate

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7511 6463

Monument Number 204275

*                                   Medieval town gate.

 

 

Beckford’s Gate

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7465 6619

*                                   Post Medieval town gate.

1800-1833                   c: Built.

19^th C                           Embattled gateway, possibly designed by H. E. Goodridge.

 

Counter’s Tower

 

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7514 6493

*                                   Medieval tower.

1694                             No longer shown on maps.

 

East Gate

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7519 6489

*                                   Medieval town gate.

1966                             Field Investigation.

 

Gascoyne’s Tower

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7488 6485

Monument Number 204592

*                                   Medieval tower.

1795                             c: Demolished.

 

Ham Gate

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7513 6459

Monument Number 204276

*                                   Medieval town gate.

1280                             c: Built.

1643                             Gate closed.

1951                             Excavated by Chichester Excavation Committee.

 

North Gate

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7508 6493

*                                   Roman gate, Medieval town gate.

*                                   Embellished in Medieval times.

*                                   Was the main gate into the city and surmounted by a tower.

1755                             Demolished.

 

South Gate

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7507 6457

*                                   Medieval town gate.

1754                             c: Demolished.

1961                             Watching Brief by Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society.

 

St. Lawrence’s Gate, St. Lawrence’s Bridge, Churchill’s Bridge

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7504 6433

*                                   Medieval bridge gate.

1273                             Mentioned.

1749                             Demolished.

1754                             Built as St. Leonard’s Bridge by R. Jones.

1965                             Rebuilt as Churchill’s Bridge.

1966                             Field Investigation.

 

St. Peter’s Gate

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7521 6476

*                                   Medieval gate.

1979                             Excavated by CRAGGS.

 

West Gate

Bath Town Defences, Bath

OSGB – ST 7487 6476

Monument Number 204591

*                                   Roman gate, Medieval town gate with drawbridge.

*                                   Embellished during the Medieval period.

1776                             Demolished.

1954                             Watching Brief by Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society