Trench 3

The first modern archaeological investigation of Bamburgh was undertaken by Dr Brian Hope-Taylor, of Cambridge University, during the 1960s and early 1970s. Dr Hope-Taylor's excavation at the Anglian royal site of Yeavering (near Wooler, Northumberland) was a pioneering work in the archaeology of timber buildings, and set a benchmark for those who followed. After the completion of the Yeavering excavation Dr Hope-Taylor became interested in Bamburgh, Northumberland's most important Anglo-Saxon royal centre.

Much of the work undertaken by Dr Hope-Taylor at Bamburgh was concentrated within the West Ward of the castle. We know that he excavated a number of trenches, making some remarkable finds, including the gold plaque known as the Bamburgh Beast, which is on display at the castle. His work revealed the presence of layers dating from the modern period back to the prehistoric. Sadly Dr Hope-Taylor did not complete his work at Bamburgh and died before he was able to publish any results.

One of the goals we have set ourselves with the Bamburgh Research Project is the completion of the work that Dr Hope-Taylor started. In 2001 we set about identifying the trenches that he excavated within the West Ward. The main trench that he excavated was revealed and partially emptied, and the location of at least three more identified.

Part of the Hope-Taylor excavation trench with the backfill removed. At the depth of the shorter red and white ranging rod we are almost certainly back to the early medieval period. The trench was not bottomed to bedrock so who knows what lies further down!

The most remarkable discovery was not found in the ground but in some of the castle store rooms where we identified more than 100 boxes of finds from the Hope-Taylor excavation. When re-united with the paper records from the excavation that Dr Hope-Taylor left, we will be able to finally publish his excavation.

From 2002 we will be undertaking a major series of excavations in the West Ward. This work will complete the excavation started so many years ago and give us a remarkable insight into Bamburgh over the ages.