On Church Street, to the east of Balkerne Hill is St Mary-at-the-Walls, built against the Roman Walls and overlooking the western suburbs of the town. First recorded in 1206, the church has a notable history. It is the site at which 23 Protestant martyrs were executed by burning during the reign of the Mary I ("Bloody Mary"). During the English Civil War the church tower was used as a gun emplacement by the Royalist army, this resulted in its destruction by New Model Army siege batteries. The tower gave rise to the rhyme Humpty Dumpty. The tower of the Norman church remains, the rest was rebuilt in red brick in 1713 - 14.





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