Tilbury Town Defences

Has been described as a Possible Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

NameTilbury Town Defences
Alternative Names
Historic CountryEssex
Modern AuthorityThurrock
1974 AuthorityEssex
Civil ParishEast Tilbury

The townsmen received orders to impress workmen to dig fortifications in 1402, but the town was refortified in C16, since when all traces of the defences have been obliterated (Turner)

Commission, for one month, to Robert Gosholm, William Lee, Nicholas Denvs and John Archer to take labourers and workmen for the fortification of the town of Est Tilbury, co. Essex, with a wall of earth and garrets, which the men of the town intend to make for defence against French and other enemies. (CPR)

Gatehouse Comments

The more vulnerable and strategic East Tilbury, which was not on the location of the modern East Tilbury estate, but towards the river around C12 St Katherine Church (given map reference). Any defenses would probably have been destroyed by coastal erosion, the building of C19 Coalhouse Fort and Battery and by remodelling of tidal flood defences.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTQ689769
Latitude51.4664001464844
Longitude0.430260002613068
Eastings568907
Northings176964
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

  • 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
  • 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)

Journals

  • Creighton, Oliver, 2006, ''Castles of Communities': Medieval Town Defences in England; Wales and Gascony' Château Gaillard Vol. 22 p. 75-86
  • Burrows J., British Archaeological Association Journal Vol. 38 (NS) p. 83-125

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1905, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry IV (1401-05) Vol. 2 p. 113 (order to impress workmen) online copy