Monument record TR 15 NW 2269 - Medieval Canterbury Castle Precincts, Worthgate Area
Summary
Location
Grid reference | Centred TR 1456 5743 (114m by 109m) (2 map features) |
---|---|
Map sheet | TR15NW |
County | KENT |
District | CANTERBURY, KENT |
Civil Parish | CANTERBURY, CANTERBURY, KENT |
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
Canterbury Castle was established on a large site immediately incorporating the Roman gate of Worthgate in the 1080's. The Norman castle replaced the earlier motte-and -bailey fortification built to the north at the Dane John soon after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The new castle's enclosure here re-used the Roiman town wall as its southern boundary. The stone keep was largely constructed in the reign of Henry I (1100-1135) as one of three Royal Castles in Kent. By the early thirteenth century the castle had become the county gaol. Within the precincts was the early church of St. Mary, believed to have been located above Worthgate and to the east of the gate a Great Hall. The area of the precinct is shown on the OS Map Roman and Medieval Canterbury and on Urry's Map 2 (b) Sheet 8.
During the medieval period Worthgate was within the castle precinct and the way between the town and Wincheap passed through the castle yard. There are stories of prisoners in the castle begging for food from passers by. In 1548 the Roman gateway at Worthgate was blocked in. However, in the 1790's the route was restored when a new road was made through the former castle precincts and the blocked wall re-opened.
Urry, W., 1967, Canterbury under the Angevin Kings (Monograph). SKE28529.
Bennett, P., Frere, S., Stowe, S., 1982, Excavations at Canterbury Castle (Monograph). SKE29766.
RCHM & Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1990, Roman and Medieval Canterbury, Ordnance Survey Historial map & Guide (Cartographic materials). SKE30269.
Elder, J. & Duncan, M., 2002, Canterbury City Wall Trail (Monograph). SKE29730.
Sources/Archives (4)
- --- SKE28529 Monograph: Urry, W.. 1967. Canterbury under the Angevin Kings.
- --- SKE29730 Monograph: Elder, J. & Duncan, M.. 2002. Canterbury City Wall Trail.
- --- SKE29766 Monograph: Bennett, P., Frere, S., Stowe, S.. 1982. Excavations at Canterbury Castle.
- --- SKE30269 Cartographic materials: RCHM & Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 1990. Roman and Medieval Canterbury, Ordnance Survey Historial map & Guide.
Finds (0)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (4)
- Non-Intrusive Event: Canterbury Castle (Ref: CAT: 115) (EKE13428)
- Intrusive Event: Excavation at Canterbury Castle, 1953 (Ref: CAT:115) (EKE13423)
- Intrusive Event: Field observation at Canterbury Castle, 1861 (Ref: CAT: 115) (EKE14207)
- Intrusive Event: Rosemary Lane Car Park (Ref: CAT: 139) (EKE13924)
Record last edited
Jun 12 2015 10:34AM