Blog: Shrewsbury Castle dig diary: Day 2 – 19 July 2022

Shrewsbury Castle Dig, funded by Castle Studies Trust, continues with the support from volunteers and student volunteers from Heritage at University Centre Shrewsbury and University of Chester.

Trench four, on the wall near the Postern Gate, continued to produce archaeological evidence much like that found on Day 1. Pieces of pot and glass continued to be found with Demi and Dr Capper continuing to excavate the trench carefully layer by layer. There was excitement towards the very end of the day with the team finding a range of new features, some animal bone and a small spherical object which closely resembled a musket ball or shot but being clay Dr Baker felt could more likely be a child’s marble. This trench was placed to identify the possible remains of structures shown on an early depiction of the castle in an area never previously excavated.

The Postern gate

Dr Morn Capper and Demi Jeffries tidy up a layer of Trench 4

Trench 4 shows new features at the end of day 2

The trenches located on the motte top hope to find evidence of its life as a fortified Norman position. The targets for these trenches are to look for the archaeological remains of a Norman Drum tower and post holes for the timber fortifications. Removing the cobbles on Day 1 has revealed what appears to be layers of gravel and hardcore put in place by Thomas Telford, who constructed a path and garden atop the motte. This meant that getting through to the archaeology below was going to be difficult, but it was a challenge that the volunteers readily took on, under the supervision of archaeologist Dai Williams. Today the top layer of gravel was taken off and the layer of hardcore levelled to provide a clear way to progress on day 3.

The trenches located upon the motte are just in front of Laura’s Tower.

A view of the trenches at the end of the day from the steps of Laura’s Tower

Progress all around was unfortunately hampered by the heat, which meant that frequent breaks for water and rest were needed. Another early finish was also readily taken as temperatures were due to reach 38 degrees! Nevertheless, good progress was made in both areas as we continue into day 3.

Scripted by George Shaw (text and images), on behalf of volunteers at Shrewsbury Castle Dig