Hedon Town Defences

Has been described as a Possible Urban Defence

There are earthwork remains

NameHedon Town Defences
Alternative Names
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityEast Riding of Yorkshire
1974 AuthorityHumberside
Civil ParishHedon

Listed by Bond as 'New post-Conquest medieval defensive circuits and medieval extensions to earlier circuits, consisting only of gates and/or earthen defences.'

Gatehouse Comments

Long sections remain of earthen ramparts are said to remain. The town was surrounded by a wet ditch but this most probably represents part of the extensive drainage ditches of the surrounding marsh. The earthen ramparts are most likely flood defences or part of the artificial canal constructed shortly after the Conquest giving access to the Humber (Before the building of Kingston upon Hull, the silting up of creek/canal and development of ships too large to use that waterway Hedon was a important port). However, the wet ditches and bank, whilst not fundamentally a fortification, would have had a defensive ability and would also have helped in the control and taxing of trade. Given map reference is for parish church.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTA188287
Latitude53.7414817810059
Longitude-0.199550002813339
Eastings518400
Northings428600
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 118, 268
  • 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
  • Allison, K.J. (ed), 1984, VCH Yorkshire: East Riding Vol. 5 p. 169-70
  • Barley, M.W., 1975, 'Town Defences in England and Wales after 1066' in Barley (ed) The plans and topography of medieval towns in England and Wales (CBA Research Report 14) p. 57-71 download/view online

Journals

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