Leominster Town Defences

Has been described as a Possible Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

NameLeominster Town Defences
Alternative NamesLeomynstre
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishLeominster

Leominster Town Ditch. Etnam St, Dishley St, and South St, were required to clear out the wet ditch in C17; This suggested a line behind Etnam St (S side) Burgage plots SO49625882 - SO49965887. (S of Westbury St, W of Dishley St, E of Townsend House, Curtilage, W of Cranes Lane). Salvage recording during construction of Kwik Save at Ryelands Rd revealed a large ditch running roughly E - W interpreted as the Medieval Town Ditch. (Herefordshire SMR)

Gatehouse Comments

The 'good men' of Leomynstre were granted licence 'to fortify the town with walls, pales and ditches, for defence against the Welsh rebels, and to compel all the men of the town to contribute to the expense according to their means' in 1402, in response to Owain Glendower's revolt. Probably little action taken, since taking taxes from people who are making ready to flee is not easy. However, the existing town ditch may have been repaired or strengthened at this time.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO496588
Latitude52.2258987426758
Longitude-2.73885989189148
Eastings349620
Northings258820
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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

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Books

  • Buteux, V., 1994, Central Marches Historic Town Survey, a personal observation (Central Marches Historic Town Survey)
  • Price, John, 1795, An Historical and Topographical Account of Leominster

Journals

  • Hillaby, Joe, 2004, 'The Origins and Evolution of the Medieval Ground Plan of Leominster Borough' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 52 p. 11-56

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1905, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry IV (1401-05) Vol. 2 p. 139 online copy
  • - < >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]. < >