Record Details
| NHER Number: | 64054 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Site of Doucehill Gate |
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Summary
This was one of two postern gates on the northern line of King's Lynn Town Defences. It is unclear when it was built but documentary sources record repairs to it during the 14th century and it was still extant on a map of 1589.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TF 6203 2070 |
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| Map Sheet: | TF62SW |
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| Parish: | KING’S LYNN, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
According to (S1) the Doucehill or Dowshill Gate was one of two postern gates on the northern edge of the Town Defences. It is clearly marked on a plan of 1589 and is shown close to the Fisher Fleet. There are several references to repairs to this gate during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377) and documentary sources cited in (S1) report that in 1426 the keeper of the gate was Nicholas Borewell, and in 1477 the keeper was Henry Bocher. However, (S2) reports that in 1426 Nicholas Borewell was in fact keeper of the South Gate and Thomas Groute keeper of the 'gates of the Doucehill'.
According to (S2) documentary sources report that in 1643 the Doucehill Gate had a drawbridge.
A. Cattermole (King's Lynn UAD), 11 March 2020.
Monument Types
- POSTERN (Medieval to 17th Century - 1327 AD? to 1643 AD?)
- DRAWBRIDGE (17th Century - 1643 AD to 1643 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| <S1> | Article in Serial: Smith, T. P. 1970. The medieval town defences of King's Lynn. Journal of the British Archaeological Association. Third Series Vol XXX pp 57-58. p 88. |
| <S2> | Monograph: Hillen, H. J. 1907. History of the Borough of King's Lynn. pp 357, 762. |
Related records
| 5486 | Part of: King's Lynn Town Defences (Monument) |