Site Event/Activity record ESF19063 - Excavation and Monitoring - New Visitor Centre, Inner Bailey Wall

Excavation in advance of new visitor centre was kept to a minimum in accordance with the SAM consent. The inner bailey wall was substantially intact in this location but suggestion that robbing of the castle wall continued into C19th. A new viewing platform was to be located on the outer south wall of the keep, adjacent to the east wall of the Fore Building. Excavation consisted of removing topsoil, rubble and mortar that had accumulated on the platform. Monitoring of the excavation of the ramp at the rear of the visitors' centre exposed a uniform deposit of brown sterile loam. Whilst disturbed by roots, no intrusions were observed in the sections an dno finds were recovered. Monitoring continued for the insertion of new fence posts, the excavation for the new footpath and for the handrail on the keep. The fence posts were excavated using a screw auger, the natural subsoil was not encountered which is probably due to the line of the new fence being located above the ditch surrounding the castle motte. All handrails were set into preformed concrete blocks which rested above the wall of the keep. No damage or intrusions into the underlying wall was observed in the monitoring (S1).