Bath city walls

Bath city walls
Bath, Somerset, Somerset
Remains of Bath's city walls
Shown within Somerset
Type	City wall
Coordinates	grid reference ST751648

Bath's city walls are a sequence of defensive structures built around the city of Bath in England.

History

Bath's first walls were built by the Romans.^[1] The Anglo-Saxons constructed a fortified burh at Bath, utilising the existing city walls, maintaining the city as a centre of regional power.^[2] 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.^[3]

The height of the walls was increased on the orders of King Stephen during The Anarchy.^[4] 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.^[5] The two gates were linked to local churches, St Mary's and St James' respectively.^[6] The North and South Gates were demolished in 1755.^[7]

During the Second World War bomb damage to Bath revealed parts of the city walls previously lost from view behind other buildings.^[8] The remaining wall circuit is now protected as a Grade II listed building and a scheduled monument.^[9] Only part of one of Bath's medieval gates still survives, East Gate, located near Pulteney Bridge in the city.^[10]

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.^[11][12] A sword from the late tenth or early 11th century was also found, which may date from a skirmish in 1013.^[13]

See also

• List of town walls in England and Wales
• Chester city walls
• York city walls

References

Bibliography

• Creighton, Oliver Hamilton and Robert Higham. (2005) Medieval Town Walls: an Archaeology and Social History of Urban Defence. Stroud, UK: Tempus. ISBN 978-0-7524-1445-4.
• Davenport, Peter (2002). Medieval Bath Uncovered. Stroud: Tempus. pp. 62–63. ISBN 0-7524-1965-X.