Welsh Journals

EXCAVATIONS AT WOOLWORTH'S CARDIGAN, 1978 Limited excavations prior to the redevelopment of F. W. Woolworth Ltd., Cardigan, were undertaken by the Dyfed Archaeological Trust in July 1978. The site was bounded on the east by the presumed line of the medieval town walls, and Speed's map shows what may be a mural tower in the area (SN 17824611). The boundary ran along a clear break of slope, providing further evidence for the former course of the town wall. Little research has been undertaken on the topography of medieval Cardigan, although the line of the town walls can be reasonably con- jectured from surviving sections fossilized in present property bound- aries, breaks of slope and by reference to Speed's map (Figs. 1 and 2). Using the same evidence the position of the town gates can also be placed with some confidence. Cardigan's first grant of murage was in 1281,1 so stone walls were probably in existence around much of the town by the beginning of the fourteenth-century. Evidence from other medieval boroughs indicates that in most instances stone defences were preceeded by those of earth and timber, although they may not have enclosed precisely the same area or followed the same course. It is therefore probable that Cardigan was enclosed by earthen defences before the construction of its stone walls. Our knowledge of these walls and gates is greatly helped by an unusually full survey of the borough in the year 1300.2 This manuscript lists the names of all the burgesses in the town who were at that date occupying about 130 burgages, some of which were in the extra mural suburb around the Priory Church of St. Mary- in vico beate Marie extra portas. The survey divides the town into six other areas: from the Wolf Gate to Bartholomew Gate; from the Bartholomew Gate to the town cross on the one side; the castle area from the cross to the bridge (pontam de Cheyni) on the one side; from the bridge to the cross on the other side; from the cross to the New Gate; and an area called [L]uteis Vennystretes. Speed's map shows that the cross was situated just south of the junction of St. Mary Street and Market Lane in High Street, which provides a useful fixed point, along with the bridge and castle, for working out the relative positions of areas described in the survey. It has been suggested3 that the Wolf Gate stood between 9 and 43 St Mary Street, in which case the Bartholomew Gate may have stood in High Street just south of the junction of College Row and Pwll Hai. The late Professor William Rees placed a St. Bartholomew's Chapel in the area north of this beyond the walled area, which can be taken as supporting evidence, but his authority cannot now be traced. The