Bath city walls
Encyclopedia
Bath's city walls are a sequence of defensive structures built around the city of Bath in England
.
s constructed a fortified burh
at Bath, utilising the existing city walls, maintaining the city as a centre of regional power. Bath, located along the northern edge of the kingdom of Wessex
, would have also guarded against any attack from neighbouring Mercia
, held by the Danes
.
The height of the walls was increased on the orders of King Stephen
during The Anarchy
. Bath's medieval walls included four gates. The North and South Gates were both decorated with a number of statues, including the legendary King Bladud
and Edward III
. The two gates were linked to local churches, St Mary's and St James' respectively. The North and South Gates were demolished in 1755.
During the Second World War bomb damage to Bath revealed parts of the city walls previously lost from view behind other buildings. The remaining wall circuit is now protected as a Grade II listed building and a scheduled monument. Only part of one of Bath's medieval gates still survives, East Gate, located near Pulteney Bridge
in the city.
In 1980 a timber barricade was found close to the north city wall. This may have been erected in the Saxon era to allow repair of the stonework. A sword from the late tenth or early 11th century was also found, which may date from a skirmish in 1013.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
Bath's first walls were built by the Romans. The Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
s constructed a fortified burh
Burh
A Burh is an Old English name for a fortified town or other defended site, sometimes centred upon a hill fort though always intended as a place of permanent settlement, its origin was in military defence; "it represented only a stage, though a vitally important one, in the evolution of the...
at Bath, utilising the existing city walls, maintaining the city as a centre of regional power. Bath, located along the northern edge of the kingdom of Wessex
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
, would have also guarded against any attack from neighbouring Mercia
Mercia
Mercia was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was centred on the valley of the River Trent and its tributaries in the region now known as the English Midlands...
, held by the Danes
Danes
Danish people or Danes are the nation and ethnic group that is native to Denmark, and who speak Danish.The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century...
.
The height of the walls was increased on the orders of King Stephen
Stephen, King of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
during The Anarchy
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
. Bath's medieval walls included four gates. The North and South Gates were both decorated with a number of statues, including the legendary King Bladud
Bladud
Bladud or Blaiddyd was a legendary king of the Britons, for whose existence there is no historical evidence. He is first mentioned in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, which describes him as the son of King Rud Hud Hudibras, and the tenth ruler in line from the first King, Brutus....
and Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
. The two gates were linked to local churches, St Mary's and St James' respectively. The North and South Gates were demolished in 1755.
During the Second World War bomb damage to Bath revealed parts of the city walls previously lost from view behind other buildings. The remaining wall circuit is now protected as a Grade II listed building and a scheduled monument. Only part of one of Bath's medieval gates still survives, East Gate, located near Pulteney Bridge
Pulteney Bridge
Pulteney Bridge is a bridge that crosses the River Avon, in Bath, England. It was completed in 1773 and is designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building....
in the city.
In 1980 a timber barricade was found close to the north city wall. This may have been erected in the Saxon era to allow repair of the stonework. A sword from the late tenth or early 11th century was also found, which may date from a skirmish in 1013.
See also
- List of town walls in England and Wales
- Chester city wallsChester city walls.Chester city walls consist of a defensive structure built to protect the city of Chester in Cheshire, England. Their construction was started by the Romans when they established the fortress of Deva Victrix between 70 and 80 AD. It originated with a rampart of earth and turf surmounted by a...
- York city wallsYork city wallsThe English city of York has, since Roman times, been defended by walls of one form or another. To this day, substantial portions of the walls remain, and York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England...