More information : (ST 93578734) EAST GATE (L.B.) (Rems. of) (T.I.) (1)
Malmesbury town wall was extant 1283-4 when arrangements were made
for its repair (2). Other authorities claim that it was built by
Roger, Bp. of Salisbury (d. 1139). Leland saw four gates, called afterthe cardinal points, all ruinous, and the wall in many places standing to full height but 'very feeble'. (3) A north gate is unlikely in view of the Abbey's position and Leland presumably meant the northernmost of two west gates, the other being a postern gate (5). Brakspear's plan (6) shows East Gate at the published position. West Gate (ST 93208733); Postern Gate (ST 93228718); South Gate (ST 93388693) (See AO/66/306/2). (2-6)
The only possibly original part of the wall is that comprising East
Gate ST 93568734. Much of the remainder of the course is indicated
by post medieval boundary and retaining walls. (a) (7)
There are no remains of the south, west or postern gates, though a
survey of 1830 suggests that the latter stood at ST 93248721.
Malmesbury must have acquired defences at least by the late 9th
century, when it became one of the towns of the Burghal Hidage.
To the west, south and east the Medieval defences must have followed
the Saxon predecessor, constructed in the form of a double wall with
a roadway between. On analogy with Shaftesbury, the earlier Saxon
defences to the north, before the construction of the Burghal
Hidage fortress, could well have run from the postern gate on the
west, eastwards on the north side of Oxford Street.
Refortification in the late 9th or early 10th century may have
extended the defences to include the monastic buildings, and Mill
Lane running north across the promontory could represent the line
of the intra-mural road at this stage. The street pattern to the
west and the presence of the market-place (Horsefair), implies the
existence of a Medieval suburb which may have been defended by a bank
and ditch across the promontory neck. (8-9)
The line of the town defences of Malmesbury on the east side,
including the East Gate, is scheduled, WILTS 881 (see plan). The
wall, of various styles of masonry, follows the very edge of the
crest of the hill which then falls steeply to the meadow below.
surviving parts may date from the time of Bishop Roger (1136-9),
although the defences were refurbished in the Civil War. The
scheduling includes a strip of land behind the wall, where there
is a fair amount of build-up which may seal deposits of all phases.
(10) |