Castle Acre Town Defences

In the civil parish of Castle Acre.
In the historic county of Norfolk (Modern Authority of Norfolk, 1974 county of Norfolk).

The remains of the defensive works which enclosed the area of the Norman town to the west of Castle Acre Castle, and the gatehouse which guarded the northern entry to the town. The town was enclosed by a ditch and an internal bank surmounted by a wall, with gates on the north and south sides. The bank and ditch on the west side and along much of the south side survive as substantial earthworks, known as Dyke Hills. Little remains standing of the town wall except the eastern end on the south side, but other remains are likely to survive beneath the ground. Broken stubs of the wall can also be seen on the eastern side of the partly ruined northern gate, known as the Bailey Gate, which stands at the northern end of Bailey Street. This is massively built of mortared flint with stone dressings and, although now roofless, still stands to full height, with twin drum towers fronting recessed inner and outer arches.

This site has been described as a;
Urban Defence.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Masonry ruins/remnants remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 221868)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TF81891510

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 1157103

• Web site links
  • http://www.castles-abbeys.co.uk/Castle-Acre-Castle-Priory.html
    http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.14
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_east_anglia/132/baileygate.htm
• Books
  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p24, 26, 72, 79, 263
    Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern) p50
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p156-7
    Bond, C.J., 1987, 'Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Defences' in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds) Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report) p92-116
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p311
    Barley, M.W., 1975, 'Town Defences in England and Wales after 1066' in Barley (ed) Medieval Towns in England and Wales (CBA research reports) pp57-71 plan p61
    Wilton, J.W., 1979, Earthworks and Fortifications of Norfolk (Weathercock Press) p20
    Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London)