MONUMENT NO. 250289

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The old defensible town ditch of Guildford ran, as the names indicate, from the Dominican Friary near the river along North Street (the North ditch) and round to South treet. (the South ditch). This connected with the Castle Ditch (now Castle Street.). It has been traced at the corner of Chertsey Street. and right across Trinity churchyard between these two lines. When the church was enlarged in 1888, and graves were removed in consequence, the ditch was traced, with much Mediaeval pottery in it. It is possible the oldest town was walled and of yet smaller dimensions. A very thick ancient clunch wall, with a well on its South side, showing that to be the inside, ran about 30 yards South of the High Street, nearly parallel to it. It would have included St Mary's Church, and a small town around the Castle mount. If this was so, the High Street itself was originally a suburban extension, later included by the ditch.
No traces of the town wall or ditch are now visible, and no excavations have revealed traces of the course of the town defences.

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The old defensible town ditch of Guildford ran, as the names indicate, from the Dominican Friary near the river along North Street (the North ditch) and round to South treet. (the South ditch). This connected with the Castle Ditch (now Castle Street.). It has been traced at the corner of Chertsey Street. and right across Trinity churchyard between these two lines. When the church was enlarged in 1888, and graves were removed in consequence, the ditch was traced, with much Mediaeval pottery in it. It is possible the oldest town was walled and of yet smaller dimensions. A very thick ancient clunch wall, with a well on its South side, showing that to be the inside, ran about 30 yards South of the High Street, nearly parallel to it. It would have included St Mary's Church, and a small town around the Castle mount. If this was so, the High Street itself was originally a suburban extension, later included by the ditch. (1)

No traces of the town wall or ditch are now visible. (2)

There is insufficient evidence for siting the course of the town ditch. No early literary references were encountered and early maps
show nothing that could be associated with the features described by authority 1. (3)

No further information. (4)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) edited by H E Malden 1911 The Victoria history of the county of Surrey: volume three

The Victoria history of the counties of England Page(s)547

( 2) Field Investigators Comments

F1 ASP 27-NOV-58

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F2 EGG 03-JAN-59

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F3 ASP 16-JUL-66

(5) Council for British Archaeology CBA research reports

Medieval Towns in England and Wales (ed) Barley 14 - 1975 Page(s)58-9

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GUILDFORD
GUILDFORD

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Medieval Borough mentioned in 1130-1, 1129-35 and represented s a borough in 1235.

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