Tamworth town defences

Has been described as a Certain Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

NameTamworth town defences
Alternative NamesWalfurlong; 'Offa's Dyke'; King's Ditches
Historic CountryStaffordshire
Modern AuthorityStaffordshire
1974 AuthorityStaffordshire
Civil ParishTamworth

No remains of Mediaeval defences of Tamworth. Apparently continued to use the defensive line of the Saxon burh before going out of use at some time between the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV. Broad ditch with a bank topped by a wall. (PastScape)

The town defences of Tamworth have been variously known as the Walfurlong, 'Offa's Dyke' and the King's Ditches. Excavation has determined that the broad ditch, and bank topped by a wall were built on the line of the Saxon burh, and went out of us between the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV. (PastScape–ref. Gould, 1967)

At Tamworth the earliest defences were of relatively slight construction and may have marked the boundary of the Mercian royal palace rather than of any specifically urban development (Gould, 1967-8, 18; 1968-9, 33-8). It is in any case not yet possible to show the Anglo-Saxon date of the internal street pattern, let alone to assign it to a pre-Æthelflædan date, or to demonstrate that it formed a planned system comparable to that of the Wessex burhs. (Martin Biddle in Bond, 1975)

Gatehouse Comments

These were mainly in medieval Staffordshire since the Warwickshire side of the town was protected by the river. (Until the C19 the county boundary ran through the centre of the town). Two small areas of the circuit are scheduled; a plot on the river just west of the castle and a plot near the NE corner of the circuit on Albert Street.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSK207041
Latitude52.6322898864746
Longitude-1.69885003566742
Eastings420700
Northings304100
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

Castlefacts3