Introduction

This lost section of the defences was on low-lying ground in the north-west part of the city between the site of Heigham Gate and the surviving wall at the south end of Barn Road.

[1] The site of Heigham gate is only 3 metres above sea level and the ground rises to approximately 6 metres by the site of St Benedict's Gate.  The lost section was just over 150 metres long and the total distance between the two gates was 235 metres.  The Customs Book of the 14th century records that there were 79 battlements between the two gates and there were two intermediate towers of which the base of the southern tower survives.  [See Report 16]

There must have been a considerable run off of water from Grapes Hill to the south and the ditch on the outside of the wall in this section must have been substantial.  In the late 15th century, in the reign of Henry VII, the ditch was stocked with fish and the grant of the rights to the ditch provided a reasonable income of 5s a year. [Fitch page 18]