Excavations at the south-east bastion, Rochester city wall

EXCAVATIONS AT THE SOUTH-EAST BASTION, ROCHESTER CITY WALL D. BACCHUS INTRODUCTION Early in 1991 an opportunity arose to examine the medieval foundations of the south-east bastion of Rochester city wall (N.G.R. TQ 7435 6828). Documentary and archaeological evidence1 point to construction by the Benedictine monks to the last half of the fourteenth century; interpreting the evidence to a specific decade has been a cause of debate since the late 1890s. 2 From the various studies, there is a general consensus that no ditch was dug for this sector of the wall.3 Originally, this south-east extension to the city enclosed the priory gardens (Plate I). EXCAVATION The purpose of the trial excavation was: (a) To obtain a section on the medieval bastion, with regards to dimensions and construction; (b) To reveal the type of entrance at the rear of the bastion; and (c) To recover some dating evidence for this southern extension to the city wall. 1 Arch. Cant., xxi (1895), 17-22; xxiv (1900), 1-85; lxxxiii (1968), 55-104; ciii (1986), 1-26. 2 Using archaeological and documentary evidence, Canon Livett and George Payne were the first to study seriously and argue the phases of development for the southern defences. They were followed by W.H. St. J. Hope and later by A.C. Harrison and Colin Flight (See above, note 1). 3 Of the authors previously mentioned, only St. J. Hope suggested that a ditch was begun along the south side, but it was never finished; Arch. Cant., xxiv (1900), 22. 129 .....,. v.l 0 Notes 1. Excavated cuttings numbered 1 to 3 2. Medieval foundation: Chalk core faced with ragstone 3. Restored stone wall on line of medieval foundations 4. Blocked openings 5. Chalk Path ------ 0 2 3 4 Scale in metres 5 ?o '.􀁡 ,' -􀀂 - 0 ' ' ' Fig. l. Plan of bastion. ' ' 􀀅 \ 0􀀂 / ''-· ·. "; See note 5 /, A 􀁢,-;' 􀁣 1 /-seenote1 •$f°:'.􀀅 A 􀁤 ✓ B ' <: 􀁥 See note 4 \--M.:'!1 \ See note 2 See note 3 t:i to > (") EXCAVATIONS AT ROCHESTER CITY WALL With the above aims three trial cuttings were excavated as shown in Fig. 1. Cutting 1 This cutting abutted the exterior face of the bastion and measured 2.80 x 1.50 m., the surface level 12.38 m. above O.S. datum. The base of the wall was encountered at a depth of 1.83 m. and rests upon brickearth (Fig. 2), the ground here disturbed with eighteenthcentury pottery to within 25 cm. of the foundation. A chalk path clipped the north-end of the cutting at 11.10 m. above O.S. datum, this path possibly crossing diagonally from Crow Lane to an opening in the east wall. Beneath the path and covering the whole area of the cutting was a dense layer of peg-tiles in dark brown loamy soil (layer 3). Over the fill was of rubble (layer 2); this contained a considerable quantity of yellow brickbats of likely nineteenth-century manufacture. The exposed external face of the bastion revealed a foundation of large chalk lumps around 0.50 m. in depth; above, the wall is faced with ragstone (Plate II). It was observed that for the lower levels, the ragstone facing still retains mortar between the surface joints. However, at 11.32 m. above O.S. datum the surface mortar has been weathered out, with the nearby path at a similar datum; this possibly indicates an earlier ground level. It seems, therefore, that the ground here has been raised by almost 1 m., probably near the turn of the century with mainly building rubble as previously mentioned. The wall above the present ground level has been repointed in recent years. Cutting 2 The cutting was dug inside the bastion and measured 2 x 1. 30 m., the surface level 12.68 m. above O.S. datum. After lifting the paved surface the cutting was initially excavated to a depth of 1.30 m.; the fill contained chalk and stone rubble in a light brown soil. It is likely that the rubble came from the original medieval bastion, as it was once in a ruinous condition.4 The rubble covered a layer of peg-tiles in brown soil (layer 4), which in turn covered a fill of chalk and flint in clay (layer 5). The chalk foundation was finally unearthed at a depth of 2.06 m.; as for the outer face it rests upon brickearth. At this point the thickness of the medieval wall base is approximately 1.50 m. It was revealed that the wall has a core of chalk and is 4 Arch. Cant., xxi (1895), 67. 131 0 Wall face Chalk foundation 0.5 D. BACCHUS 12.38 sz § 􀀁 I] layer 5 1.0 Metre Fig. 2. Section A-A. Top soil Mortar & yellow brick rubble with soil Dark brown soil, plus peg tile & some brick Brown soil going to brickearth. Brickearth faced with ragstone. The internal face stands to a height of approximately 1.35 m. at its highest point. The chalk core is slightly higher than the facing stone, sloping in an upwards direction towards the outer side of the wall (Fig. 3; also Plate III). At this depth the internal face is not pointed with mortar, which seems reasonable, for layer 5 (chalk and flint in clay) is the likely original fill of the bastion base, covering the walls below the original ground floor level. From this excavation and documentary sources,5 it is evident that the wall above ground level has been considerably restored, and the wall thickness possibly reduced. The present thickness is little more than half the width of the medieval foundation. 5 T. Fisher, The History and Antiquities of Rochester and its Environs, (1772), 4: 'They [monks] also might think it less trouble to build a wall with new materials, than to demolish the old one [old south wall], for that purpose; they therefore might permit the old wall to continue as a double security to their property, which being thicker than the new wall remains, whilst this last is almost entirely demolished.' 132 EXCAVATIONS AT ROCHESTER CITY WALL 􀀂8 Restored ragstone wall ---- 01J:0 0 12.38 See note Notes 1. Surface of wall weathered above dashed line 2. Medieval wall: Faced in ragstone with a core of chalk 3. Levels are related to OSBM in Crow Lane Value -= 12.86m See note 2 Foundation of large ----•',Y:,>-.,,,,d>-rrl,......J..J,-.la( chalk lumps 0 2 Scale in metres Fig. 3. Section B-B. Cutting 3 This cutting was dug across the entrance to the bastion and measured overall 3.20 x 1.50 m.; natural ground was encountered at a depth of 1.30 m. The uneven surface level here is lower than the adjacent paved bastion floor. 133 D. BACCHUS The likely original construction layer was established when flecks of mortar were uncovered at a depth of 1.25 (layer 4); this layer covered the north-end of the cutting. Contained within this layer was a small assemblage of late-medieval pottery, which was recovered from the north-east corner (see finds). As for the other cuttings, a layer containing much peg-tile was encountered (layer 3). The excavation revealed that the opening into the bastion is 1. 70 m. wide, across which a narrow wall with a central doorway has been inserted (Plate IV). The remaining doorway stands to a height of 0.73 m. and is 0.58 m. wide. Stone jambs line the doorway and are sharply carved with chamfers on the outer side and rebates for the door check on the inner. In contrast to this neat stonework, the wall encompassing it is poorly built. A single large stone forms the door-sill, its threshold 11.40 m. above 0.S. datum. The medieval foundation of the south wall was unearthed at the south-end of the cutting; at this point, where the wall joins the bastion, it is 1.30 m. thick. Again the wall has a core of chalk faced on either side with stone. DIMENSIONS AND FEATURES From the final survey, the bastion measures 8.30 m. across its greatest width. The enclosing wall is of irregular thickness, standing to a height of 3.30 m. above the present ground level. On the inside of the bastion there are three openings at points north, south and east, all blocked externally. Crudely restored, they are of irregular shape and size; it is doubtful they bear any resemblance to the originals. FINDS Finds from this excavation were of mainly ceramic material dating from the late seventeenth to the early twentieth century; only cutting 3 contained medieval pottery. Medieval ceramics from Cutting 3.6 (a) Five sherds of glazed Coarse Border ware, large rounded jug or cistern. Mid fourteenth- to mid fifteenth-century. The absence of a bung-hole amongst the pieces does not allow definite identification as a 'cistern' fragment. 6 Information from Judith Stevenson, The Museum of London. 134 EXCAVATIONS AT ROCHESTER CITY WALL (b) Two sherds of unglazed London-type ware, mid twelfth- to mid fifteenth-century. (c) One uncertain unglazed pottery fragment. Possibly a sherd of medieval South Hertfordshire grey ware. (d) Six fragments of peg-tiles. On the whole these pieces were considered to be late-medieval, i.e. late fifteenth-century. However, the piece with a uniform glaze may be a little earlier. Plain fragments of peg-tiles are difficult to date as they have been in use in the south-east from the thirteenth century. SITE ASSESSMENT For this sector of the wall renovation appears to have begun by the middle of the nineteenth century. It was considered some work might have been undertaken around 1880, when the city council laid out The Vines (a parcel of land on the south side of the wall) as a public garden. On checking the city records7 this was found not to be so; attention was, therefore, focussed on the Dean and Chapter records. For the period 1864 to 1894, the brief references indicate piecemeal repairs. Hence, this once derelict wall, repaired in a patchy fashion, bears little resemblance to its medieval form above ground. Each cutting was found to contain a layer rich in peg-tiles; this suggests that for a period the bastion might have been roofed. Although it has not been possible to ascertain when, it is assumed to be contemporary with the construction of the inserted doorway. What purpose the bastion served for this period can only be speculated; however, its defensive role had come to an end. With regards to the layout, the bastion does not equally bisect the angle made by the south and east walls, extending approximately 6 m. out from the east wall and 2.25 m. from the south. Although almost certainly planned, it is not readily apparent why this should be, apart from suggesting that it was to view a nearby opening in the wall bordering Crow Lane. 8 Turning to the medieval foundations, assuming the pointed 7 From Kent Archives: City of Rochester, estate committee (2) minute book, April 1878 to August 1881, RCA/A2/6. The archives of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester; DRc/Ac 14, DRc/Ac 15, DRc/Ac 16 and DRc/EMF/65. 8 J. Phippen, Descriptive Sketches of Rochester, Chatham, and their vicinities (1862), 139: 'The south tower is by no means in such a perfect condition as the northern one, but almost adjoining it are the remains of a postern gateway, leading into the prior's orchard.' Unfortunately, it is not stated on which side of the bastion the gateway was situated; however, it is likely to be in the eastern wall. 135 D. BACCHUS stonework is an indication of the original ground level, they are 0.77 m. deep, which seems shallow for a wall specified as 4.88 m. high in the medieval charter of Edward III in 1344 A.D. (supposing it was built as specified). CONCLUSION Two of the three original objectives were met. It was unlikely that the third, to obtain dating evidence for the structure, would be accomplished. However, a late fourteenth-century date is not ruled out by the medieval pottery found in cutting 3. A comparison with the bastion can be found at Cooling Castle,9 particularly with regards to the north-west tower of the outer ward. This horseshoe-shaped tower, which is open at the rear, was built between 1381 and 1385 A.D. The trial excavation at cutting 1 did not reveal any evidence of a ditch at the south-east angle of the wall, which came as no surprise. Reaffirming the account of the bastion, the restored wall follows the line of the medieval foundation, which was built to a fair standard. For the future, building on our existing knowledge, plus careful selection of suitable sites for trial excavations, our understanding of the development of the southern defences can be enhanced. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to the late Mr M. Skinner, C.B., Comptroller of Rochester Cathedral; also Mr and Mrs. L. Davies of the King's School, for their interest and co-operativeness. For much appreciated help and guidance I thank Mr A.C. Harrison, B.A., F.S.A., along with Judith Stevenson for identification of the pottery. Finally, my thanks to the members of the K.A.S. and Lower Medway Archaeological Group who carried out the excavations, with much appreciated assistance from Dana Adler, Glenys Collingwood, Peter Dawson, Sarah Loat, Patricia Norris, Terry Smith, Jason Stringfellow and Graham Thomas. 9 Arch. Cant., xi (1877), 128-44. 136 EXCAVATIONS AT ROCHESTER CITY WALL PLATE I South-east bastion. PLATE II External view of medieval foundations, cutting l. 137 ...... (.;.) 00 PLATE III Internal view of medieval foundations, cutting 2. PLATE IV Inserted doorway at the opening to the bastion, cutting 3. 0 t:x, > 8 2 Cl>