Priory Tower

April 1935

PRIORY TOWER (Continued)

The timber was from large elm trees, with all branches trimmed off, and the trunks made into square beams, about 2-ft. 3-in. in width. The task of getting them in position must have been a clever feat in those days, for the marsh near the river was very deep and difficult. It must have required a lot of horse power as well as man power; quite a dozen horse shoes were found which had been pulled off in their struggling, some of these nearly new.

As digging proceeded, the timbers were uncovered, and found to form a massive foundation, smaller branches being morticed in the larger; the men found it very difficult to remove them, for as all the ground was not required they had to be cut off with axe and stubbing tools. Some of these timbers are under the causeway and roadway now. Two pieces cut off would weigh at least one ton each, and pulleys were fixed to lift them out - these timbers are now preserved.

At the time of building this tower at least three feet depth of water would have to be dealt with; no wonder that a number of shoe soles came from here, as well as the horse shoes. As the Priory Mill dam extended to the Tower, no horse road would be made through it, but boats were used on the pool, and in these the Prior and Convent would reach the tower. Three boat-hooks have been discovered during excavations The workmen evidently lost a lot of tools in those days, and as so much mud and water was there, if a tool was dropped it was difficult to find it - and numerous were the tools discovered.

Three tiers of stones with a plinth were found in position on the timbers, and at the side of the plinth the mason, or labourer, had placed his pick, and the rising water had covered it. The iron is of a fibrous nature, tough and sharp at one end, with a flat hammer like a collier's pick of to-day, at the other end. The shaft is of ash, and although one half is split from top to bottom into small pieces, the other half is quite good and tough, and could even be used on light work to-day. Quite a number of bill-hooks were found, some in good condition, but no wood handles on. These are of very similar shape as of to-day. Scores of iron pins with heads and a hole for a small pin at the other end were found. These would be for shutter pins, and were made the same as shutter pins of to-day. Large and small nails were in abundance.

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