Wexford — Townparks (st. Peter's Par.) (part of ),wexford,townparks (st. John's Par.),townparks (st. Michael's of Feagh Par.)

Founded by the Vikings in the ninth century, Wexford town was built around the deep water Pool, now occupied by the Crescent. Archaeological excavations in the town indicate that the NNW-SSE line taken by Main St. probably represents the crest of the original shore created by high tides, with most deposits E of this being composed of silts and infill. However, only one section of quay has been identified (WX032-031027-) in this area with a section at a location further inland (WX037-032043-). The earliest occupation material will probably be found W of Main St. and close to the Pool. The defences of the Viking town have not been encountered in excavation yet, but they were probably an earthen rampart with an outer fosse. Their precise route cannot be described with certainty, but it is very likely that they followed much the same line as the later Anglo Norman wall, beginning at the S end of the town at the seashore near the site of the Anglo-Norman castle (WX037 032001 ), crossing the Bishops' Water river, Bride St., Peter St., the old Kysers Lane now Mary Street, and returning to the sea probably at Cornmarket and Common Quay St. (Colfer 1990-1, 9). St. Iberius’ church appears to have been at the N limit of the town but extra-mural suburbs were burnt when the Anglo-Normans captured the town in 1169 (Bradley and King 1990, 148). This encloses an area of c. 6 ha. Archaeological excavation at the junction of Bride St. and Main St. (WX037 032020 ) confirm that this area contained Viking settlement material (Bourke 1988-9). No murage grants survive for Wexford town but traditionally the Anglo-Norman walls were begun by King John and finished c. 1300. The town received its first charter from Aymer De Valence in 1318, and charters were granted in 1410, 1538 and 1609 (Bradley and King 1990, 152). In 1307 365 burgages are recorded in the town, and this remained remarkably stable as 345 are recorded in 1537 (Hore 1900-11, vol. 5, 102, 138). From the 14th century the silting of the harbour limited the size of ship that could enter, which precipitated a period of decline. Competition with the deeper ports of New Ross and Waterford further weakened the trading position of the town, but the harbour was a considerable asset throughout the Middle Ages (de Courcy Ireland 1970). Nevertheless, up to half the burgages are described as ‘waste’ in various inquisitions (ibid. 152). At the end of 1641 the town was in the hands of the Confederate Catholics, who dug a fosse outside the walls ‘8 feet deep and 24 feet wide’, and by the time Cromwell captured the town in October 1649 a rampart had been added inside the wall (ibid. 161), which is still evident in places. The town was described in 1682 as a walled town with five gates but it was half depopulated through the collapse of the herring fishing (Hore 1900-11, vol. 5, 363). There were at least six gates, known largely from a survey of 1662 and Hore’s map (1900-11, vol. 5, 284). They were the Castle Gate, Bride Gate, Peter’s Gate, St. John’s Gate, the Friars’ Gate probably on Mary St., and the Westgate or Cow Gate leading to Spa Well Rd. The only surviving gate, now called Westgate, was associated with St. Selskar’s church (WX037-032009-) and not a public road, which preserved it when the Corporation began to remove obstructions in the 18th century (Colfer 1990-1, 16). Hore’s map also shows a ‘ward gate’ between St. Iberius’ church (WX037-032013-) and the Bull Ring, which may be on the line of earlier Norse fortification. The Anglo-Norman walls (WX037-032003-) followed the likely line of much of the Viking ramparts, but settlement could extend further E and N, and an area of c. 18 ha is enclosed by these walls. The defences began at the harbour on the N side of the site of the castle (WX037 032001 ), crossed Barrack St. and King St. and Bride St. at the junction with Clifford St. From this point it progressed NNW to the top of Mary St., continued N to the W side of High St., Mallon St. and Abbey St., crossed Georges St. to the West Gate and turned NE back towards the harbour. Considerable portions survive: at the SW corner off Bride St.; from St Patrick's church to Mary St.; a small portion behind the houses on the W side of High St.; a portion with a rectangular tower W of Mallon St.; a small portion with a circular tower to the W of Abbey St. at the Cornmarket running as far as George's St. A further section runs from George’s St. to the West Gate. Within the town there are the remains of churches at St Selskar's (WX037 032009 ), St. Patrick's (WX057 032010 ) and St Mary's (WX037 032011 ). The sites of two other churches are known within the town – St Dulogue's, or Olave’s (WX037 032012 ) and St Iberius' (WX037 032013 ). Outside the town the sites of six other parish churches are known — St John's (WX037 032015 ), St Peter's (WX037 032016 ), St. Mary Magdalene’s (WX037-042001-) attached to the Leper Hospital (WX037 041 ), Holy Trinity (WX037 032014 ), St Michael's of Feagh (WX037 032017 ), St Bridget's (WX037 032018 ), and the site of the Franciscan Friary (WX037 032019 ) (Hore 1900-11, vol. 5; Hadden 1968, 1969; Colfer 1990-91, 2002) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 19 December, 2012