GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN WALL

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The town wall was started in 1284, completed in the late 14th century and ceased having a defensive role in the late 18th century. Circa 23 ft high, 2238 yards long and encloses an area of 133 acres. There are several gunports in the South-East tower and the adjoining wall, dating to circa 1460. The defences were modified in 1587 when it was found that they were poorly kept. A rampart was added outside the walls from the South gate around to Blackfriars Gate. (see TG50NW27 for Civil War defences).

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(TG 52180822 - TG 52480669) Town Wall (NR) (Remains of) and (Course of) (NAT) (1)

The Medieval Town Wall of Great Yarmouth runs from the river Bure to the banks of the river Yare and is about 23 ft high, 2238 yards long and encloses an area of 133 acres. The construction of the wall was authorised by the Crown in 1260 but building did not begin until 1284. The method of construction was that a trench, later the moat, was dug to a depth of 5ft. Its base was lines with large flagstones to form a solid level surface. Walling of knapped flint, some 2ft 6ins thick was then built as a revetment containing the loose material forming the trench sides. A 5ft trench was dug along the inner side of the revetment wall and at intervals of about 11ft. heaps of flint were placed to form piers for the brick arcading. The brick work formed the inner walling and knapped flint was built on the basal revetment to form the outer facing. In between the piers arrow slits were placed constructed of Caen stone. The top of the brick arcading was finished off as a wall walk and the flint facing was built up to form the parapet. Towers and gates were constructed at intervals along the wall. The wall was completed in the late C14th. In the C16th an earthen rampart was thrown up against the inner side of the wall as a defense against gunfire from ships. Gun ports were constructed on top of the rampart. The Mount (see TG 50 NW 17) and the South Mound (see TG 50 NW 5) were constructed at this time as emplacements for ordnance.
The town was refortified during the Civil War when the moat was redug. By the late C18th the moat was refilled with soil and rubbish and the wall had ceased its defensive function. For details of the present state of the wall see 1:2500 in Map Diagram draw). (2,3)

Great Yarmouth Town Wall is in the main visible throughout its entire length. Modern buildings occupy a few short lengths and modern roads now replace the old gates but many of the towers remain. Traces of the internal earthworks are still visible but there is no trace of the moat. Where best preserved the thickness of the wall attains 2.0m with a height of 6.0m.

See copy of 1:1250 MSD for survey and 1:2500 copy for remarks and ground photographs. (4)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) General reference

OS 1:2500 1965

( 2) General reference

Gt Yarmouth Town Wall Report Oct 1969 (Gt Yarmouth & Dis Arch Soc)

( 3) General reference

Town Defences in Eng & Wales 1971 139-144 (Hilary L Turner)

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 RSC 28-OCT-80

RELATED MONUMENTS

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GARDEN GATE
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Site of gate through the wall, built in 1636, demolished 1776.

SOUTH GATE
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Site of the South Gate which had circular towers to either side. Demolished in 1812.

SOUTH MOUNT
GREAT YARMOUTH

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A rectangular mound erected in 1590 at the South-west corner of the town wall, between the South Gate and the River Yare, to cover the southern approa...

PALMERS TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Tower is still in situ and has been repaired and a new roof added. The first tower known as Palmers or Mydell Tower is 18 foot wide and twenty five fe...

BLACKFRIARS TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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A D-shape tower built in 1342 with gunports added circa 1460.

SOUTH EAST TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Tower is 30 feet high and 21 feet wide and has been converted into dwellings.

SHAVES TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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The base of the sixth, round, tower, known as Shave's Tower is 27ft wide and stands on the north side adjoining the site of New Gate (TG 50 NW21). No...

THE MOUNT
GREAT YARMOUTH

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The Mount was erected in 1569 as a defence against the Spanish Armada. As originally designed and built, it was an earth platform 200 feet long and 5...

PINNACLE TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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The 27ft wide seventh tower, known as Pinnacle Tower, is still extant. It is surmounted by a conical rood. The upper storey has been given square wind...

LITTLE MOUNT GATE
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Site of town gate demolished in 1804.

ROPEMAKERS GATE
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Gate demolished in 1785 only site remains

NEW GATE
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Site of gate erected in 1601 and demolished in 1776

PUDDING GATE
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Site of gate of Medieval town wall demolished in 1837.

HOSPITAL TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Hospital Tower, 24ft wide, is still extant and acquired its name because it adjoins the precinct walls of St. Mary's Hospital.

MARKET GATE
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Market Gate, demolished in 1830, formed the passageway through the now demolished tenth tower.

GUARD TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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The 24ft wide Guard Tower is still extant. Its base has been incorporated in the buildings fronting the Plain on the inner side of the wall.

OXNEYS GATE
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Site of Gate which was the passage through a Tower, demolished in 1776.

MONUMENT NO. 134039
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Civil War bastioned enceinte and moat at Great Yarmouth, 1642-5. The town had declared for Parliament along with the rest of Norfolk and Suffolk. Sinc...

NORTH EAST TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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The North East tower is approximately 12 feet in diameter, circular, and projects from the angle formed at the meeting of the north and east walls. Bu...

HARRIS TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Tower survives as part of an 18th century house. harris's or Baldrey's Tower is a 'D' shaped tower, 30ft wide and projects 26ft beyond the wall. Its w...

KING HENRYS TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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King Henry's Tower is an octagonal tower built of flint rubble with Caen stone dressing and is twelve foot high. It was the first part of the Medieval...

NORTH GATE
GREAT YARMOUTH

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The North Gate was a twelve foot wide passage-way through the 66ft wide sixteenth tower. The tower was composed of two square towers constructed on ea...

NORTH WEST TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Corner tower dating from 1344 is 30 feet high and circular and was erected circa 1344 and restored in the 1960's. Built of flint and red brick with a ...

ST NICHOLAS GATE AND TOWER
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Site of St Nicholas Gate and Tower, demolished in 1799.

MONUMENT NO. 134112
GREAT YARMOUTH

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Small wall tower and ravelin in the churchyard of St Nicholas Church.

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