Monument record MCC1310 - Outer bailey ditch of Colchester Castle

Summary

Norman outer bailey ditch of Colchester Castle.

Location

Grid reference TL 99937 25538 (point)
Map sheet TL92NE
1848 Parish ALL SAINTS
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

During observation of the excavation of a pipe trench in Castle Park (ECC375) in 1983, a shallow ditch was excavated inside the town wall towards the north end of the pipe trench. The ditch survived approximately 1m deep and over 10m wide. The edges had been much disturbed by later cultivation.
The base of a post-hole in the bottom of the ditch (see MCC1303) was thought to be associated with it.
The ditch backfill included a quantity of some very large septaria blocks and some flint nodules which were thought to represent a stockpile of unused medieval building material for repairing the town walls.
A further stretch of the same ditch was revealed 65 metres to the south. Immediately to the west of the ditch were the remains of a much denuded bank (see MCC1314).
'It is likely that the bank and ditch were the remains of the outer bailey defences of the castle. The existence of these defences is suggested by the rise and pronounced dip in ground level running northwards the Park cafe. This forms a boundary of some antiquity.'<1>

see also Arch Journal 1983 Plan of 1622 in Drury article.<2>

A parallel ditch is suggested by the 1610 map (Speeds map of Colchester) which depicts an area of free of buildings, running up from the town wall to St Helen's Chapel along the east side of Maidenburgh Street.<3>

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Monograph: Crummy, Philip. 1992. CAR 6: Excavations at Culver Street, the Gilberd School, and other sites in Colchester 1971-85. 6. p.372.
  • <2> Article in serial: Drury, P. J.. 1983. 'Aspects of the origins and development of Colchester Castle'. 139.
  • <3> Cartographic materials: Speed, J. 1610. Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain.

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Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Oct 13 2016 11:31AM

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