Bala Town Defences

Has been described as a Questionable Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

NameBala Town Defences
Alternative Names
Historic CountryMerioneth
Modern AuthorityGwynedd
1974 AuthorityGwynedd
CommunityBala

When Roger Mortimer laid out the borough it was undoubtedly his intention to defend it with a wall and ditch incorporation this existing fortification (the motte). Indeed, the 1324 charter makes special provision for such work, but there is nothing to suggest that his instructions were ever carried out. A earthen bank may have been thrown up at the top of the town, (Soulsby)

Gatehouse Comments

Given map reference is for parish church. If there was a bank 'at the top of the town' it is more likely it was a flood defence.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSH927361
Latitude52.912540435791
Longitude-3.59734988212585
Eastings292700
Northings336100
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

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Books

  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 273
  • Bond, C.J., 1987, 'Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Defences' in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds), Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report 61) p. 92-116 online copy
  • Soulsby, Ian, 1983, The Towns of Medieval Wales (Phillimore; Chichester) p. 74-6
  • Beresford, M., 1967, New Towns of the Middle Ages (London) p. 557
  • Lewis, E.A., 1912, Medieval Boroughs of Snowdonia p. 61, 283-87 online copy

Journals

  • Creighton, Oliver, 2006, ''Castles of Communities': Medieval Town Defences in England; Wales and Gascony' Château Gaillard Vol. 22 p. 75-86

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1908, Calendar of Charter Rolls Edward I, Edward II 1300-1326 Vol. 3. (HMSO) p. 467
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1912, Calendar of Charter Rolls Edward III 1327-1341 Vol. 4. (HMSO) p. 214
  • Ellis, H. (ed), 1838, Registrum Vulgariter nuncupatum, 'The Record of Caernarvon' (Record Commission) p. 174
  • - < >Also see the Gatehouse murage pages for full details of murage [grants > http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/murage/murindex.html], [petitions > http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/murage/mupindex.html ] and [other such > http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/murage/muaindex.html]. < >