Cardigan Town Walls

Has been described as a Certain Urban Defence

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameCardigan Town Walls
Alternative NamesAberteifi; Kardygan
Historic CountryCardiganshire
Modern AuthorityCeredigion
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityCardigan

The monument comprises the remains of two surviving stretches of the medieval town wall of Cardigan, thought to have been built in the 13th century or later. The northern stretch, which marks a substantial change in level in the area between Chancery Lane and Pwllhai, has been much refurbished over the years, the thick footings probably being the medieval part. The southern stretch, to the rear of 43 St Mary Street, has an arch within it which might be part of the town gate. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

C13 stone walls and earth banks extended up the ridge behind the castle. Apparently no history, Speed's map of 1610 is principle authority for the existence of the walls. Grants of murage in 1280 for eight years and 1299 for five years suggest building was concentrated during late C13/early C14. The area enclosed was relatively small and did not included the parish church, but did enclose the High Street and market.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSN178461
Latitude52.0827484130859
Longitude-4.65637016296387
Eastings217800
Northings246100
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 2013, Medieval Walled Towns (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 163
  • Poucher, P. 2010, Aberteifi: 900 mlynedd o hanes yng nghartref yr eisteddfod / Cardigan: 900 years of history at the home of the eisteddfod (Llandeilo: Dyfed Archaeological Trust)
  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 27, 97, 271
  • Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 17 (mention)
  • 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
  • Soulsby, Ian, 1983, The Towns of Medieval Wales (Phillimore; Chichester) p. 99-101 (plan)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 50
  • 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 online copy
  • Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p. 212
  • Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales online copy

Antiquarian

Journals

  • Creighton, Oliver, 2006, ''Castles of Communities': Medieval Town Defences in England; Wales and Gascony' Château Gaillard Vol. 22 p. 75-86
  • James, T., 1983, 'Excavations at Woolworth's Cardigan 1978' Ceredigion Vol. 9.4 p. 336-42 online copy
  • James, T., 1978, Archaeology in Wales Newsletter Vol. 18 p. 54
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1901, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward I (1272-81) Vol. 1 p. 371 (murage grant) online copy
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1895, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward I (1292-1301) Vol. 3 p. 431 (murage grant) 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]. < >