Trench 1

Trench 1 was located at the north west corner of the northern end of the west ward of the castle up against the perimeter wall. The trench was intended to investigate a fragment of the surviving medieval curtain wall located in this area and to provide a sample of the archaeology. A further trench, Trench 2 was located opposite Trench 1 in the north east corner of the west ward. The two trenches were amalgamated during the 2003 season.

Trench 1

Evidence for a medieval building of c14th to 15th century date has been identified within Trench 1 a partially surviving wall was seen parallel to the perimeter wall just inside the trench's southern edge. These stones probably represented the base for a timber wall rather than the foundations of a stone building. The structure forming a lean-to type construction against the northern perimeter wall. A mortar surface located to the north of this wall-base formed a floor within the building. It ended in the central part of the trench where narrow slot may have marked the position of a timber partition within the structure. The plan below shows an earlier phase of this structure with cobble surface extending across the trench.