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| Monument Name |
Pleshey Castle - Excavations 1972-1974, 1977-1978, 1980 |
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| SMR Number |
1138 |
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| Summary |
A large area was excavated east of the brick bridge from the lip of the bailey up on to the motte. |
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| Description |
A large area was excavated east of the brick bridge from the lip of the bailey up on to the motte. The construction trench of the extant bridge was located as well as the footings of its predecessor. The latter, though robbed, consisted of rectangular chambers that are envisaged as supporting a rigid timber superstructure. The form of construction may suggest that the bridge had a retractable section or drawbridge. A terminus post quem for the bridge comes from pottery, conventionally dated c1200 but possibly late C12. This was probably the first bridge or the first substantial one in the south bailey. The soilmark of an earlier ditch round the motte was found, this accompanied the earlier bridge and the two went out of use at the same time. The ditch may well have surrounded the ditch of the first castle on the site. None of the ditch was excavated so it isn't known if the ditch was cleared out in the late C12 refortification or if the existing ditch was cut instead. Contemporary with the ditch and bridge, the horizontal ledge was cut out along the south of the ditch. This ledge may once have extended more to the north east to be more accessible from the entrance. Its function may have been to allow easier transportation of materials during bridge construction and-or it may have given access to an earlier, simple bridge at the time of the late C12 refortification and also to bring materials to the foot of the motte. The line of the north wall of the lowest cut of the bridge recorded was continued by a wall that may have acted as revetment for for the back edge of the ledge and the bailey beyond. A well on the ledge could be only superficially examined. It was square in plan with an outer lining, preserved `aerobically' almost to the level of the ledge. It is suggested that the bridge was dismantled at the end of its useful life, to be replaced by the late C14-early C15 brick bridge. Excavated pits suggest an earlier date than previously suggested for this bridge but it would thus become harder to parallel. The previous bridge was altered to carry the timber-framed wing of a new structure in the bailey. The lowest cut of the bridge was converted to a latrine. Another ditch was cut to go through the arch of the new bridge. Robbed areas of the bridge and its adjacent well were infilled and a long series of flimsy timber buildings were erected here. Of the timber-framed building in the bailey it isn't known if this incorporated or replaced a gatehouse here. This structure had at least 5 periods of repair and alteration prior to dismantling in the C16 or early C17. Some rooms were decorated with polychrome-painted wall plaster. The flimsy timber buildings nearby were variously framed or founded on sole plates or rows of posts, some with raised timber floors, some with gravel spreads. No obvious function other than domestic. The east side of a post medieval cut in the bailey bank was cut back prior to infilling with spoil. 3 separate periods of earthwork construction seen, all probably Norman and later. The line of the 1st earthwork may have been fixed by a shallow marking-out bank. It wasn't possible to tell if it had been timber-revetted at the front as the 2nd period work almost certainly was. In the 3rd period the revetment would have been uprooted or reduced by a cut in the rampart top. Further earth was heaped over to form the present unrevetted bank. The 1st period bank is suggested as being a former line of the town enclosure before the latter was altered by the construction of the southern bailey, which would be the 2nd period rampart. <1>-<5> Photos of Bassett excavations in the SMR. <6> |
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| Monument Type(s) |
TOWN DEFENCES (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
WELL (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
BRIDGE (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
BRIDGE (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
BUILDING (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
BUILDING (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
DITCH (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
Latrine (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
BANK (EARTHWORK) (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
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| Monument Class(es) |
CONJECTURAL EVIDENCE
CROPMARK
SUB SURFACE DEPOSIT
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Period
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1066AD to 1539AD Medieval
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| Status |
Not Known |
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| Administration Area |
PLESHEY, CHELMSFORD, ESSEX |
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National Grid Reference
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Square: TL61SE
Ref: 665144 |
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| Finds |
POTTERY VESSEL (Dated 1066AD To 1539AD)
POTTERY VESSEL (Dated 1066AD To 1539AD)
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| Events |
PART EXCAV by Bassett, SR,
PART EXCAV by Bassett, SR, 1977
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Sources
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Photograph : TL61-012 (unknown) 6 frames
Desc Text : Medieval Britain in 1973 (Bassett, SR in Webster, LE and Cherry, J) Vol 18, p196 Dated : 1974
Excavation report : Pleshey Castle. An Interim report on the excavations of 1972-74 and 1977 (Bassett, SR) Dated : 1977
Desc Text : Medieval Britain in 1977 (Bassett, SR in Webster, LE and Cherry, J) Vol 22, p169 Dated : 1978
Desc Text : Medieval Britain in 1980 (Bassett, SR in Webster, LE in Youngs, SM and Clark, J) Vol 25, p200 Dated : 1981
Excavation report : Pleshey Castle:an interim report on the excavations of 1978 and 1980 (Bassett, SR) Dated : 1981
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