More information : (SU 60788983) Site of (TI) North Gate (GT) (1)
The North Gate of Wallingford. Whether this entrance in the
town's rampart and ditch defences (see SU 68 NW 28) is
original, is doubtful. It is concluded also that there is not
sufficient evidence to date the defences themselves. (2)
The site of the N gate has been moved from the Town Ditch to SU
60768981, the intersection of the Town rampart and Castle
Street which clearly follows the line of its mediaeval
predecessor. (3)
SU 608898 Excavation by Brooks, in 1965, located the north gate
beneath the outer bank of the Castle defences. (Sited at SU
60818981 from plan Fig 1). The earliest gate was of timber, but
c 1250 a stone arched gateway was erected over the town ditch,
which was channelled into a culvert and a roadway laid over
(Fig. 2).
The gateway was destroyed (c 1275-1300) when the castle
defences were extended; at the same time North Street was
re-aligned some 40 yds to the west and, presumably, a new gate
erected. (4-5)
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