NHER 67097 (Monument record) - Probable remains of tower associated with medieval city wall

January-August 2010. Watching Brief.
Maintained during groundworks associated with St Augustine’s Gyratory road scheme.
The works at the northern end of Esdelle Street had an average depth of between 0.6m and 0.9m below ground level and generally only exposed demolition deposits of 19th- to 20th-century date. The one exception was this location, where a probable fragment of the medieval city wall (NHER 384) was encountered just below the surface. The shape and north-west to south-east orientation of this fragment suggest it probably represented part of the eastern side of a tower associated with this section of the wall – similar to that now reconstructed at the western end of Magpie Road. The exposed section of wall was 1.75m thick and constructed of flint and lime mortar. Traces of plaster could be seen on its inner face. While the form of the outer wall suggested a semi-circular shape there was a suggestion that it had had a polygonal interior plan.
The remains of the wall were broken up using a concrete breaker down to formation level after they were recorded.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 May 2023.