Brycheiniog (36)

In 2003 Border Archaeology were appointed by Powys County Council as archaeological consultants for the Brecon Inner Relief Road. The main elements of the work comprised archaeological observation of all the groundworks and standing building recording. In addition, evaluation of a specific area encompassing the former sites of No. 14 Market Street and Nos. 1 and 2 Watergate located substantial structural remains. Subsequent excavation revealed a semi-circular structure, interpreted as the lower level of a mural tower relating to the medieval town defences and incorporating what appeared to be an arrow slit on the north-west side. It is possible that the structure relates to one of two town gates that once stood in this location: the Bridge Gate (or Usk Gate) and the Water Gate. The historical and archaeological background to the area is outlined in this article and the excavation findings are described and discussed. It is concluded that the tower was probably built in the late 13th to early 14th century and that it appears to have overlain an earlier occupation site, attested by an ovoid stone-lined pit at the base of the structure. LD