Oakham Castle Community Dig 2018

Interim Report and Project Impact Review

Mathew Morris MA ACIfA

Project Officer, Archaeological Services (ULAS)

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES

Introduction

In April 2018, University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) was commissioned by Rutland County Council

to carry out a community archaeology dig at Oakham Castle. The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as

part of a broader £2.1 million grant to restore this nationally significant site. The grant included work to restore the

12th-century Great Hall, a Grade I Listed Building which is widely considered to be the best surviving building of its

kind in England. Additionally, the Restoring Oakham Castle project has recorded, stabilised, and conserved the

castle’s stone curtain wall, improved visitor facilities, site access and site interpretation, and funded a programme of

events and family activities to open up the castle’s important history for visitors to explore.

As little remains of the castle above the ground, archaeology plays an

important role in furthering the understanding of the site. As part of the

project, archaeologists from ULAS have carried out several investigations

in and around the castle, monitoring groundworks for new drainage and

electricity cables, the restoration of the castle’s defences and excavation

of the footprint of a new toilet block to the west of the hall. Additionally,

the project made provision for community involvement in the

archaeological exploration of the castle.

Community Dig Aims

The aim of the 2018 community dig was twofold: to build upon

work first started by Channel 4’s Time Team in 2012, and to give

volunteers the opportunity to take part in a unique archaeological

project which would uncover new information about the castle’s

history.

During filming of their Season 20 episode ‘Horseshoe Hall’ Time Team

identified that significant archaeological remains still survived beneath the

many lumps and bumps in the castle’s inner bailey. Of particular interest

was tantalising glimpses of two building, one north-east of the hall,

possibly a stable, and one to the west of the hall, possibly the solar block.

In both areas, by finding Time Team’s trenches again and opening larger

areas for investigation, it was hoped that the 2018 community dig would

make more sense of these complex structures.

Left: top, Time Team excavate a building west of the hall; bottom, ULAS

archaeologists investigate the castle’s curtain wall.

Oakham Castle – A Brief History

The original motte-and-bailey castle was probably

established in 1075 by William the Conqueror. A

hall is mentioned in 1086 but this is not the building

we can see today. In 1130 the castle was given to

the Ferrers family and around 1180, Walkelin de

Ferrers began rebuilding it in stone. He also built

the Great Hall, which is considered the finest

example of its kind in England.

Surviving parts of the castle include the remains of the

11th-century motte and inner bailey, the late 12th-century

hall, parts of the 13th-century stone curtain wall, and the

outer bailey known as Cutts Close.

An account of the castle in 1340 describes the following:

“At Oakham there is a certain castle, well walled, and in

that castle are a hall, four rooms, a chapel, a kitchen, two stables, a barn for hay, a house for prisoners, a room for the gate-keeper,

and a drawbridge with iron chains. The castle contains within its wall an estimated two acres of ground. The same is called the

manor of Oakham. Outside the castle is a garden, and fish ponds and a moat.”

By the 16th-century, residential use of the castle had ceased and by 1521 an inquest said “there is at Oakham an old castle, all

ruinous… the hall is in the best state of repair, and old fashioned.” The hall continued to be used as a court house, however, which

protected it to the present day.

Today, the only buildings that we know about for certain are the

hall and the kitchen. Blocked doorways in the east wall of the hall

provide clues to the location of the service range and excavations

in 1956-7 found evidence for a buttery and pantry, and a detached

kitchen block.

More recently, as part of the Restoring Oakham Castle project,

vegetation has been removed from the ramparts, again revealing

large areas of the castle’s 13th-century curtain wall.

Above: Key features of Oakham Castle, with the 2018 community

dig areas highlighted.

Left: Engraving of Oakham Castle in 1730 by Samuel and

Nathaniel Buck.

Oakham Castle from the south-east as it may have looked in the 14th century. Artwork: Phil Kenning

Volunteer Participation

The community dig, carried out in the inner bailey of Oakham Castle

between 18th and 29th April 2018, aimed to give volunteers from

Oakham, and the wider Rutland and Leicestershire communities the

opportunity to take part in the exploration of the castle’s history, as well

as engage with visitors to the site and school groups who wanted to

learn more about the archaeology of the castle.

Placements were free and available to all, regardless of age or ability, the only

requirement being that volunteers needed to have the fitness to carrying out

activities equivalent to a day of gardening. No prior experience was necessary,

with training provided to everyone by a team of archaeologists from ULAS.

In all, 50 volunteers took part over the two-week project. People ranged in age

from 15 to nearly 80, and ability from no previous experience, to members of

local archaeology and history groups, and five Distance Learning students

studying archaeology at the University of Leicester (three of whom used the dig

as assessed fieldwork).

Over the two weeks, volunteers contributed 745.5 hours (109 person-days) of

work on the excavation. Most people attended for 1-2 days, with five volunteers

attending for 5 or more days. Volunteers were expected to take part in all

aspects of the dig, from excavation using hand tools such as trowels, brushes,

mattocks and shovels, to washing and processing the finds, to site recording, as

well as engaging with the public – who had access to the excavations when the

team was on site (Wednesday to Sunday both weeks).

Additionally, ULAS staff provide tailored training for volunteers, notably the

Distance Learning students and some members of local archaeology groups,

who wanted to learn extra skills. This particularly focused on archaeological

recording skills such as context sheet writing and site photography.

50 volunteers

109 person-days volunteered

745.5 hours volunteered

800-1,000 visitors to the excavation

Over 26,000 people reached via social media

Press and radio interviews given

Public Engagement

An important part of the project was to communicate its discoveries to the diverse

range of people who use the site, including visitors to the castle, locals who use the

site recreationally and school groups. This took on six aspects:

1. Members of the archaeological team engaged with visitors to the site on a daily basis.

In the first week of the dig, the team interacted with c.50-100 people per day (it was

very nice weather!), whilst in the second week visitor numbers dropped to <50 per day

(the weather worsened during the second week). A public open day on the middle

Sunday of the project (22nd April) attracted c.300 visitors to the excavation. In all,

around 800-1,000 people visited the excavation during its two weeks.

2. An information distribution system called Info-Point was trialled for the duration of the

project. Info-Point created a WiFi ‘hotspot’ through which site visitors could access a

‘local web’ and browse additional information about the project using a smartphone or

tablet. As well as access to the content via conventional web browsers, QR codes also

allowed visitors to be directed to specific information at each trench site. Content

included an introductory video, regularly updated photo galleries, downloadable

information sheets, games and links to further reading. In all, 996 page views were

generated during the excavation.

3. In addition to the digital content, paper information sheets were also regularly produced

to keep visitors to the castle up-to-date with the latest discoveries from the

excavation.

4. A wider audience was kept informed through ULAS’s social media platforms –

primarily Facebook and its news blog Ulasnews.com. During the week

preceding the excavation, the excavation itself and the immediate aftermath

(figures accurate as of 11/5/2018): 11 Facebook posts were liked 405 times,

shared 125 times, and reached 25,955 people, whilst 4 news blogs were

viewed over 700 times.

5. Annotated, interactive 3D models of the excavations were created using

photogrammetry and uploaded to Sketchfab.com for people to explore the

archaeology in more detail. These can be viewed at:

https://sketchfab.com/leicester-archaeology/collections/oakham-castle-

community-dig-2018

6. Finally, interviews were given to Radio Rutland and Radio Leicester, and

extensive coverage of the dig also featured as a ‘special report’ in local

newspapers the Rutland Times and the Rutland and Stamford Mercury.

Above: A vertical view of the archaeology in Trench 1. A 3D model of Trench 1 can be viewed at https://skfb.ly/6yPnH

Trench 1 (north trench) – a stable or workshop uncovered

North of the hall, Trench 1 focused on a series of earth

mounds in the north-east quarter of the castle’s inner

bailey. Here, in 2012, Channel 4’s Time Team identified

a sizeable stone wall, thought to date to the 13th or 14th

century. Removal of turf and topsoil with a mechanical

digger revealed that the earth mounds within the trench

area were large piles of rubble, presumably from the

demolition of an underlying building.

The topsoil contained finds dating to the late 17th, 18th and

19th centuries – pieces of clay tobacco pipe, pottery, china,

animal bone, iron nails, copper buttons, a bone knife handle

and part of a jar lid for Crosse & Blackwell anchovy paste

(c.1839). This ‘rubbish’ was probably dumped here by the

people of Oakham after the castle had been abandoned, the

site becoming a convenient place to dispose of refuse from the

17th century onwards.

Above: A medieval stone wall found by Channel 4’s

Time Team north-east of the Great Hall in 2012.

Left: Part of Time Team’s wall is found again in 2018.

The wall was buried beneath a thick layer of rubble left

behind following the building’s demolition.

Top right: The stone wall, fully uncovered in 2018,

was the south-west corner of a building.

Bottom right: Scorching inside the building was

evidence of re-use of the derelict structure.

Far right: A row of post-holes beneath the building

was evidence of an earlier structure on the site.

The building rubble probably dated to the early 17th

century, when George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham

levelled the ruins around the castle. The rubble

contained dressed stone, roof slates and large quantities

of broken glazed medieval ridge tiles. Soil beneath the

rubble produced medieval pottery of 12th- to 14th-

century date, with later 15th- and 16th-century pottery

types largely absent. This would suggest that the

building had fallen out of use before the 15th century,

becoming derelict perhaps 200 years or more before its

ruins were finally demolished in the 17th century, and

supports historic sources which describes the castle “in

a poor state, suffering from neglect and lack of

maintenance” in 1388, and “all ruinous” in 1521.

Beneath the rubble was the southern end of a long

narrow building (5m wide inside). In places, the walls still

stood to waist height, but whilst they were built of stone,

construction was crude and the building only had an

earth floor. The eastern side of the building also appeared to be less well built that the other sides and may have been open,

perhaps facing a yard to the east. Current thinking is that this was probably one of the many service buildings in the castle, perhaps

a stable or workshop.

Soil around the southern side of the building produced large quantities of animal bone, many showing butchery marks, as well as

sherds of 12th- to 14th-century green-glaze table wares and plainer kitchen wares – all probably waste from the castle’s kitchen

located nearby. Excavation also revealed that the building had gone through a prolonged period of neglect and reuse before it was

eventually demolished, including a fire in the ‘derelict’ structure which had scorched the stones of the southern wall. Again, this fits

the documentary sources which

suggest that buildings in the castle

were in poor condition by the end of

the 14th century, ruined by the early

16th century and demolished at the

beginning of the 17th century.

Exciting evidence found in the last

days of the dig (a row of four post-

holes) now also suggests that there

was an earlier timber structure

beneath this building, which could be

evidence of the original Norman

castle, although so far an exact date

is not forthcoming.

Trench 2 (west trench) – the Solar & other buildings

It is believed that during the medieval period,

the area west of the Great Hall was the site of

a detached solar block (the private residence

of the lord and his family). In 2012, a trench

dug by Time Team found evidence for more

than one phase of building in this area, with

the later phase probably dating to the 15th or

16th century. More recently, work by ULAS

during the construction of a nearby toilet block

suggested that the area to the north of Time

Team’s discoveries was ‘outside’ and that the

interior of the buildings must be to the

south of these walls. Trench 2 focused

on an area which was believed to be

‘inside’ these buildings.

Right: A vertical view of the archaeology in

Trench 2. A 3D model of Trench 2 can be

viewed at https://skfb.ly/6yP6v

Far Right: Broken roof slates.

Bottom right: Fine worked masonry,

probably part of an arch from a

doorway.

The mechanical digger removed turf and topsoil

which covered a thick layer of rubble. This was over

a metre thick with some of it probably falling from

the castle’s curtain wall, whilst the rest had come

from the demolition of other castle buildings in the

vicinity. Because of the rubble’s thickness, it was

also removed using the digger so that the

archaeology beneath could be safely accessed.

During this work pieces of fine worked masonry,

probably part of an arch of a medieval doorway, and

broken roof slates, probably from the roofs of nearby

buildings, were recovered.

Beneath the rubble at the northern end of the trench,

a complicated sequence of buildings with evidence

for multiple phases of rebuilding was uncovered. It

appeared that the walls first discovered by Time

Team were part of two stone buildings constructed

close to the curtain wall. The earlier building

(Building 1) was connected to the north aisle of the

hall by a pentice (covered) walkway and appeared

to date to the castle’s heyday in the 13th and 14th

century. The walkway was 2m wide and had a

sturdy stone and mortar floor and may correlate with

an Inquisition of 1375 which refers to the building of

a new chapel and chamber, the chapel being

connected to the hall by a passageway.

At a later date, probably in the 15th or 16th century,

Building 1 and the passageway were demolished

and replaced with a large timber post-built structure

(Building 2). The northern side of the building was

supported by a stone wall but the rest of the

structure was supported by sturdy vertical timber

posts which rested on large square padstones.

A third stone building, also probably of 15th or 16th

century date, was identified at the southern end of

the trench. It was also probably built against the

curtain wall and appeared to have a threshold and

doorway on its eastern side. However, not enough

of this building was uncovered to know whether it

was contemporary with Building 1 or 2 to the north,

although 15th-century pottery from beneath the

threshold suggests the latter. As in Trench 1,

evidence shows that the remaining buildings west of

the hall were demolished by the 17th century.

As yet, not enough evidence has been found to say

conclusively what these buildings were used for.

However, finds of decorated green-glazed table

wares, dress pins, an iron knife, high-quality

masonry and elaborately decorated glazed ridge-

tiles all suggest that use of the earlier building (1)

was of higher status than that of the later buildings

(2 and 3) and the buildings in Trench 1. This agreed

with the idea that this area of the castle was kept as

the private residence of the lord and his family.

Above: Looking west at the covered walkway attached to Building 1.

Above: Looking north at the padstones and wall of Building 2, built over

the remains of Building 1.

Right: Looking south at the remains of Building 3. A

section of wall survived with the room (to the right)

filled with building rubble. There is a possible

doorway with a stone threshold where the wall ends

in the foreground of the photograph.

A Selection of artefacts from the dig

Top row (l-r): Post-medieval finds from Trench 1 - part of a jar lid of Crosse & Blackwell anchovy paste (c.1839), a bone knife

handle, and part of a clay tobacco pipe bowl.

Second row (l-r): Three lead pistol shot, copper alloy buttons, and a medieval iron knife from Trench 2.

Third row (l-r): Sherds of decorated tableware (c.1225-1400) from Trench 2, decorated glazed ridge tiles from Trench 1 and

Trench 2.

Bottom row (l-r): Part of a medieval whetstone, a lead fishing weight, and two copper alloy dress pins, all from Trench 2.

Educational Outreach

In addition to the volunteer participation and public engagement,

arrangements were made for four primary school groups to visit the

excavation (one unfortunately had to be cancelled due to bad weather, a

hazard of archaeological outreach!). A total of 80 children in KS1 and

KS2 were given the opportunity to take part in the project. Activities

provided and supervised by ULAS staff included searching the spoil

heaps for missed finds, washing finds from the excavation, a dig box

filled with archaeological artefacts to find and identify, and a chance to

see the dig in action and handle some of the latest discoveries from the

project.

A small group of 5 home-schooled children also took part in the excavation, as

did a larger group of 17 children from the Leicestershire branch of the Young

Archaeologists’ Club. In addition to the activities offered to school groups, these

groups were also both given the unique opportunity to excavate on site, and two

members of the Young Archaeologists’ Club each found a medieval dress pin –

two of the star discoveries of the project.

3 school visits

Young Archaeologists’ Club participation

Over 100 children took part in the dig

Conclusion

The Oakham Castle Community Dig was a resounding success, not only

in its volunteer participation, public engagement, and educational

outreach, but also in the importance of the archaeology uncovered and

recorded.

The impact that these discoveries will have on our understanding of the castle’s

history is noteworthy. Not only do they re-enforce the significance of the site’s

archaeological potential, but they provide a meaningful narrative for previously

undocumented aspects of the castle’s use through the medieval period and

beyond, and help refine the framework for future research on the site.

Images: The Young Archaeologists’ Club take part in the excavation.

Archaeological Services (ULAS)

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t: +44 (0)116 252 2848

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@ULASarchaeology

sketchfab.com/leicester-archaeology

This document was published in July 2018 (© ULAS 2018). Image: Decorated glazed medieval ridge tiles from Oakham Castle.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES