Doncaster Town Defences
Has been described as a Certain Urban Defence
There are no visible remains
| Name | Doncaster Town Defences |
| Alternative Names | Gillot Bar; Hallgate Bar; Sun Bar; Bardike |
| Historic Country | Yorkshire |
| Modern Authority | Doncaster |
| 1974 Authority | South Yorkshire |
| Civil Parish | Doncaster |
At Doncaster the Normans reoccupied an old Roman site at a strategic crossing point of the river Don. A motte and bailey castle was built over the fort of Danum and the later anglo-saxon burgh. The town itself was laid out over the Roman civilian settlement. Richard I's borough charter confirmed the towns existing privileges in 1194, and a royal charter, which extended the fair from two to three days extended the existing market rights. Burgage plots have been traced along Frenchgate, High Street, St Sepulchre Gate, Baxter Gate and Scott Lane. The street pattern in the centre of the town was largely moulded by the town ditch and the earthen rampart created beside it. In the middle ages water from the Cheswold (the original course of the river Don) flowed along this ditch which was not in-filled until 1734. Four substantial stone gates stood at St Mary's bridge, St Sepulchre Gate, Hall Gate and Sunn Bar, marking the entrances to the town. An enormous market place lay in the south east corner of the town, which lay close to the wharf. The marketplace formed an extension of the churchyard of the original parish church of St Mary Magdalene, which stood on the site now occupied by the Victorian Corn Exchange. The market at Doncaster became nationally famous and served both the traffic from the river, and the traffic from the Great North Road. (PastScape ref. Hey, 1986)
Not scheduled
Not Listed
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | SE574033 |
| Latitude | 53.5246086120605 |
| Longitude | -1.13253998756409 |
| Eastings | 457400 |
| Northings | 403300 |
