Archaeological excavations at Nottingham Castle
Those visiting Nottingham
Castle in the last few weeks will have seen evidence of archaeologists at work.
As well as supervising a required drainage survey, Trent and Peak Archaeology
has also been conducting investigative work, in the form of test pits in
different locations around the site.
Paul Johnson PhD, Project Manager from Trent & Peak Archaeology
explains what has been found...
"In the Outer Bailey, test pits dug to determine the depth
of deposits overlying the bedrock have confirmed the presence of archaeological
layers relating to the use of the site as allotments in the 19th century,
formal gardens in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the presence of as-yet
uninvestigated layers, potentially dating to the Medieval period below these.
Further investigations appear to have revealed the edge of the Medieval ditch
separating the Middle Bailey Green and the Inner Bailey, and evidence for the
architectural history of the current museum/gallery building."
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Nottingham Art Map Weekender 14 & 15 May
A great chance to visit Nottingham Castle and a host of other arts venues for FREE all weekend.
Have a look at the website to see which exhibitions are happening and where - The Castle is currently showing Gordon Cheung - Here Be Dragons.There will be free drop in workshops on the exhibition over this special weekend.
To get free castle entry and to take advantage of a £2 event return ticket on Nottingham trams, you just need to print off a voucher. You'll need one for every person attending.
Read more about the Nottingham Art Map Weekender
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Scott's facts and findings
Welcome to Scott's fourth column. In this edition, he explores an alternative legend for Mortimer's Hole...
"Since
the 1960s, there have been suggestions that the cave known as Mortimer's Hole
was not the actual passage used by Edward III when capturing Roger Mortimer in
1330.
Instead, it is thought a relatively little known cave was used.
The
cave in question is known as the Northwest Passage, but also has the curious
name of Davy Scot's Hole. 19th and 20th century historians assumed the name
derived from David, King of Scotland, and this myth continues to be repeated.
A
little known fact is that in the 17th and 18th centuries the cave was known as
James Scot's Hole, so the current name is a more recent invention. Who James
Scot was is a mystery.
If
the core of the legend of Mortimer's capture is true, then Edward and his men
entered the castle via a little known passage. Mortimer's Hole is very visible
and could never have been regarded as a secret. The Northwest Passage, which
has been blocked at the castle end since the 1720s, will have been little
known.
A
probable Medieval document adds weight to the belief. According to the document
the constable of the castle told Edward...
'I know another weye by an alet
[alley] that stretchith oute of the ward under the earthe into the castell that
gooth into the west ...'
The Northwest Passage certainly extends from what was known
as the ward of the Castle, out to the west.
The
passage was first investigated in 1936 by George Campion and was laser scanned
in 2010. We will never know for sure if it was used in 1330 but it seems quite
likely. Secret passages are referred to as having been used during a siege of
the castle during the Civil War in 1643 and we can be certain the Northwest
Passage was used at that time."
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Mortimer's Hole
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