Listed Building record MDO12747 - Park Wall, Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Wall bounding Gold Hill on its West side. Originally the boundary wall to the Abbey precincts at their south east corner. It is built on an outcrop of rock and forms a retaining wall to the steep open strip known as "Park". It is of stone ashlar with large buttresses of various dates, some battered, some with offsets. About half-way up the hill there is a blocked round-headed doorway. It dates mainly from the late 14th or early 15th century with later repairs and rebuilds. The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water.

(Centred ST 862227) The Park (NAT) (ST 86262290 to ST 86222280) Park Wall (NR) (Remains of). <2> 'On the south side of the town, near which formerly stood the abbey and the church, was a park belonging to the abbey, which still retains the name of Park-Hill. At the east end, where it abuts upon....... Gold-Hill, remains part of the wall that inclosed it...... supported by very large buttresses; but lower down, near the parish of St. James, little more than the ruins of it are extant'. A map of 1615 shows the 'Park Wall' extending from about ST 86262291 to ST 86092267, evidently enclosing the southern portion of 'The Park' centred at ST 862227. <1> (ST 86262290 to ST 86222280) A stone wall bounding Gold Hill on the west, which although repaired and rebuilt in several places, dates mainly from the late 14th or early 15th century and probably formed part of the boundary of the Abbey land. The portion which stands nearest the bottom of Gold Hill has been rebuilt but original material appears to have been re-used. Towards the top of the hill the original masonry is preserved with buttresses of two and three weathered stages; supplementing these are probable 19th century buttresses with inclined faces. About half-way up the hill there is a blocked round-headed doorway. <3>

Record last edited

Jun 27 2023 2:56PM