| Summary : Northampton town wall and defences. The wall was built by the 1st Earl of Northampton, Simon de senlis I, between 1090-1111. Grants of murage were made in 1224, 1251, and 1301, the latter so large that it suggests a rebuild rather than repair. The four main gates were on the Market Harborough, London, Kettering and Daventry roads. After falling into disuse in the 16th century, it was repaired in 1642-3. Demolished on Royal orders in 1662. Speed's map of 1610 shows two triangular bastions towars the south-east corner on the south side.Excavations in Green street in 1986-7 recovered the most complete sequence yet found. The earliest defences were a clay bank revetted in timber of early 10th century date. This was later refaced in stone and a gateway ceated. The latter ws blocked in the 12th century when the Mediaeval town wall was built. Evidence of Civil War usage was seen in two ditches cut into the Medaeval infilled ditch. |