Castlefacts³

Old Skegness Town Defences

Has been described as a Questionable Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

Name	Old Skegness Town Defences
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Lincolnshire
Modern Authority	Lincolnshire
1974 Authority	Lincolnshire
Civil Parish	Skegness

Skegnesse sumtyme a great haven toune a 4. or 5. miles of. Mr. Paynelle sayid onto me that he could prove that there was ons an haven and a towne waullid having also a castelle. The old toune is clene consumid, and eten up with the se, part of a chirch of it stode a late. At low waters appere yet manifest tokens of old buildinges. For old Skegnes is now buildid a pore new thing. (Leland)

Gatehouse Comments

Skegness was a prosperous little port, like several others along this coast, but a great tempest in 1526 broke through the headland and the town crumbled into the sea. Rebuilt nearly a mile inland of the old site, but now again on the coast, so any physical evidence of walls will now be lost and even reading the landscape is impossible. Osbourne (2010) suggests this may have been Roman. There is no primary medieval references to town walls. Although Skegness was reasonably prosperous port in the medieval period it is not likely to have been a large enough to support walls. A lost Roman signal station or even a small Roman fort are possible.In 1526 Skegness would seem to have been rather 'bracing' than usual.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record

www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MLI86086&resourceID=1006

OS Map Grid Reference	TF590630
Latitude	53.1404609680176
Longitude	0.375629991292953
Eastings	559000
Northings	363000