Alnwick town walls
Alnwick's town walls are a 15th-century defensive structure built around the town of Alnwick in England.
| Alnwick town walls | |
|---|---|
| Alnwick, Northumberland | |
 | |
  Alnwick town walls | |
| Coordinates | 55.4123°N 1.703°W |
| Grid reference | grid reference NU188132 |
| Type | City wall |
History
Alnwick's town walls were built in the 15th century following a period of considerable border instability and raiding that had caused significant damage to Alnwick's economy.[1] Henry VI permitted the town to charge murage on selected imports to Alnwick in 1434 and, using these taxes, protective walls with four gates were built in stone over a period of around fifty years.[2] The local Percy family controlled the neighbouring Alnwick Castle and the Bondgate Tower was decorated with their lion crest - an unusual feature for town gates of this period which normally celebrated civic, rather than local noble, identities.[3]
Today the remaining parts of the walls, including the 15th century Bondgate Tower[4] and the 18th century Pottergate,[5] are a scheduled monument and a grade I listed building.
References
- Pettifer, p.172; Creighton and Higham, p.87.
- Pettifer, p.172; Creighton and Higham, p.269.
- Creighton and Higham, p.141.
- 55°24′46″N 1°42′13″W
- 55°24′54″N 1°42′39″W
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.
- Pettifer, Adrian. (2002) English Castles: a Guide by Counties. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-0-85115-782-5.