Site Event/Activity record ECH2872 - Beeston Castle Excavations 1975 to 1985

This event is one of two major programmes of excavation (the first represented by ECH2873), an involved the mechanical clearance of the Inner Ditch, which was preceded by further archaeological work in 1975 and 1976 under the direction of Peter Hough. The results of these excavations have been published (1). Subsequently excavation was undertaken by Peter Hough at the Outer Ward, the Outer Gateway, and on the hill-slopes to its east, together with further work in the Inner Ward. The Outer Gateway excavations took place prior to the construction of new access routes to the castle, and were carried through in almost all areas to the natural surface. The earlier excavations at Towers 5 and 7 were reopened and enlarged (see ECH2873). Excavations in the Outer Ward commenced in 1980 following the discovery, as a surface find, of a Bronze Age palstave, and continued in 1981 to clear the area known as the South Cutting. In 1985 further excavations were undertaken in advance of a new pathway through to the Inner Ward. A small area was opened on the south side of the entranceway across the Inner Ditch and further work was carried out in the Inner Ward and Ditch. The West Gatehouse Tower was excavated in 1980, and a burial found by workmen against the north wall of the Inner Ward was recorded. Recording of contractors' work in the Inner Ditch took place in 1977, 1979, and 1982. Three small trenches were opened to the north of the Outer Gateway excavations along the line of a track way. Finally, south of the modern entrance an area was opened up at the foot of the hill slope. A brief account of the results up to 1981 has been published (2, 3). The excavations in the inner ward and ditch were targeting features associated with the medieval castle, while three trenches in the outer ward and the areas around the outer gate were placed along the lines of new access routes (5). The southernmost trench, in the centre of the outer ward, was the first in this area to be excavated, and was positioned to investigate the area where a Bronze Age artefact had been found on the ground surface. A geophysical survey was also conducted by A Bartlett in 1981 as part of these investigations, focused on the outer wards, and a potential ditch at the outer gate (5). A number of specialist finds and soil sample reports were generated by the Ancient Monuments Laboratory as a result of the English Heritage excavations in the 1980s at Beeston Castle. These include reports on pottery, human bone, glass beads and miscellaneous finds, soil samples, iron working and quartz. (See sources 6 to 11)