Knighton Town Defences

Has been described as a Possible Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

NameKnighton Town Defences
Alternative NamesCnicteton; Cnichton; Knytheton; Knython; Trefylco
Historic CountryRadnorshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityPowys
CommunityKnighton

Hatfield quotes a document (apparently of C15, but no reference is given) which states Knighton has a strong wall in 1402. King writes if wall existed it probably was not of masonry. Bond is happy to list it as a vanished C13 stone wall.

In 1260 Knighton secured a grant of murage for the construction of town walls, but if they were built nothing is known of their course. It is more reasonable to imagine earth and timber defences than a stone wall, since later observers would not have failed to note traces of the latter. Moreover, the town would have been relatively easy to defend as it was virtually enclosed by existing lines: to the north and east it is bounded by the River Teme, on the West by Offa's Dyke; (The welsh name for the town, Trefylco means 'the town on the ditch') and on the south by the Wylcwm Brook, the western end of which flows through a steep-sided valley. It is possible that any man-made defences were partly destroyed by Owain Glyndwr who took over the town in 1402. (Soulsby)

Gatehouse Comments

Salter writes burgesses received grant of murage in 1260. In fact the grant of Murage was to Roger de Mortuo Mari (Roger Mortimer) of murage for his town of Knytheton for seven years from Whitsunday (Dated 8th May 1260), a second grant to Roger's bailiffs and good men issued 1277. That is it was a lordly initiative rather than one by the town's people. It may well be that these grants of murage had more to do with restating Roger's holdings and status (He had claimed back Knighton from the king in 1247), at a time when he was about to become first Baron Wigmore and was developing a major political career (he was to become Regent of England), however Roger was an active solider, had considerable enemies in Wales and amongst the English barons, and may well have also wanted to protect and defend his interests.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO284722
Latitude52.345630645752
Longitude-3.04795002937317
Eastings328400
Northings272200
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 2013, Medieval Walled Towns (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 175
  • Remfry, P., 2008, The Castles and History of Radnorshire (SCS Publishing)
  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 128, 266, 273
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern)
  • Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p. 96
  • Remfry, P., 1996, Castles of Radnorshire (Logaston Press) p. 113
  • 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. 155-6
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 413
  • 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 p. 207
  • Hatfield, W., 1947, Knighton p. 14-15 (unreference quote of document stating town had stone wall in 1402)

Journals

  • Creighton, Oliver, 2006, ''Castles of Communities': Medieval Town Defences in England; Wales and Gascony' Château Gaillard Vol. 22 p. 75-86
  • 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), 190?, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry III (1258-66) Vol. 5 p. 67 (murage grant) online copy
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1901, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward I (1272-81) Vol. 1 p. 249 (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]. < >

Other

  • Delaney, C.J. and Soulsby, I.N., 1975, Historic Towns in Radnor District (Urban Research Unit)