St Augustines, Shrewsbury

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Town House, and also as a Possible Fortified Ecclesiastical site, and also as a Possible Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

NameSt Augustines, Shrewsbury
Alternative NamesSancti Augustini de Salop
Historic CountryShropshire
Modern AuthorityShropshire
1974 AuthorityShropshire
Civil ParishShrewsbury

The licence to crenellate allegedly issued in 1345 was in fact a mortmain grant. However, in 1337 the friars were granted a stone wall extending from the priory to the river on condition 'that they built a substantial embattled house there'. In 1342 mention is made of 'a certain crenellated house constructed upon the aforesaid wall'. (Jackson 1988)

Tower, forming the south-west termination of the riverside New Work defensive wall (62559). The tower was discovered when the ground along the riverbank was lowered to extend Victoria Avenue in November 1911 (site 60298). Had a diameter of 18 feet, and walls 3 ft thick of red, probably Keele Beds, sandstone, half in the school playground, half in the roadway. (Shropshire HER)

Gatehouse Comments

It was common for mural tower in town defensive walls to be used as residencies often with a condition the tenant in such a tower kept it in good repair. A round tower just north of the abbey site, on the river bank, in Victoria Avenue, may represent this 'embattled house'. This is scheduled although the remains are hidden under the road surface.

- 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 ReferenceSJ487126
Latitude52.709228515625
Longitude-2.76065993309021
Eastings348730
Northings312620
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.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Jackson, M.J.,1988, Castles of Shropshire (Shrewsbury: Shropshire Libraries) p. 73 (reject)
  • Gaydon, A.T. (ed), 1973, VCH Shropshire Vol. 2 p. 96-7
  • Knowles, David and Hadcock, R Neville, 1971, Medieval religious houses in England and Wales (Longman) p. 243
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 414 online copy
  • Owen, H., 1808, Some Account of the Ancient and Present State of Shrewsbury p. 75

Antiquarian

  • Speed, John, 1611-12, The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain online copy)

Journals

  • Coulson, C., 1982, 'Hierarchism in Conventual Crenellation: An Essay in the Sociology and Metaphysics of Medieval Fortification' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 26 p. 69-100 see online copy
  • 1931-2, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 46 p. 51-3
  • Weyman, H.T., 1929-30, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 45 p. 131
  • 1920-1, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 10 p. v-vi
  • 1912, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 2 p. ii-iii
  • Auden, T., 1909-12, Transactions of the Caradoc Severn Valley Field Club Vol 5 p. 259-260
  • Drinkwater, C.H., 1907, 'The Augustian Friars, Shrewsbury' Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 7 p. 105 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1903, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1345-48) Vol. 7 p. 11 online copy