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
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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
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Fig. l. Plan of bastion.
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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
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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 ----
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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
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PLATE III
Internal view of medieval foundations, cutting 2.
PLATE IV
Inserted doorway at the opening to the bastion, cutting 3.
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