Southwold Town Defences

Has been described as a Questionable Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

NameSouthwold Town Defences
Alternative NamesSuwald
Historic CountrySuffolk
Modern AuthoritySuffolk
1974 AuthoritySuffolk
Civil ParishSouthwold

C13 stone wall projected but probably never built or never completed. Licence to crenellate granted in 1259.

Gatehouse Comments

Turner writes of C16 fortifications 'the plan was to isolate the town by a wall on the landward side.' This may be a reference to Higham Bulwark which was on the north side. The town is naturally well defended by surrounding rivers and marshland and gateways on the one or two causewayed entrances to the medieval town would have been enough to secure the trade of the town, although attack from the sea would not have been so prevented. However, there doesn't seem to be any evidence of any such work.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTM500760
Latitude52.3227615356445
Longitude1.67429995536804
Eastings650000
Northings276000
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 2013, Medieval Walled Towns (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 157 (slight)
  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 262, 264
  • 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
  • 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
  • Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p. 138
  • Gardner, T., 1754, An Historical Account of Dunwich 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), 1910, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry III (1258-66) Vol. 5 p. 108 (licence to crenellate) online copy
  • Lemon, Robert (ed), 1865, Calendar of state papers, Domestic series, of the reign of Elizabeth 1581-90 Vol. 2 (London: Longman) p. 569 (Vol. 219 f.62) 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]. < >