Dunwich Town Defences

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Pales Dyke

In the civil parish of Dunwich.
In the historic county of Suffolk (Modern Authority of Suffolk, 1974 county of Suffolk).

C12 and C13 defences of earthern banks. Scant traces of C13 work. Single grant of murage in 1253 but this may have been for sea or flood defences rather than fortification. Last remnant exists, rest destroyed by coastal erosion.

This site has been described as a;
Urban Defence.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Possible.
Cropmarks/slight earthworks remains.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TM47857024

PastScape number; 392113

Books

Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p39, 57, 88, 264
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 p461
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
Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London)

Journal Articles

West, S.E., 1971, The excavation of Dunwich town defences, 1970 (with a note by N. Scarfe)' Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History Vol32 pt1 p25-37
Scarfe, N., 1971, 'Note on the historical records of Dunwich's defences. (in West 1971)' Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History Vol32 pt1 p34-7
West, S.E., 1967, CBA Group 7 Vol14 p19
Spencer, H.E.P., 1935, 'Notes on the excavation of Temple Hill, Dunwich, December 1935' Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History Vol22 pt2 p198-200

Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)

William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/essexeng.html#suff12]

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Dunwich Town Defences

C12 and C13 defences of earthern banks. Scant traces of C13 work. Single grant of murage in 1253 but this may have been for sea or flood defences rather than fortification. Last remnant exists, rest destroyed by coastal erosion.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TM47857024

Sources of information, references and further reading