The dig

Motte-and-bailey
The basic layout of Beaudesert castle can still be discerned, even though only that single stone can be seen above ground. In particular, the classic motte-and-bailey structure of medieval castles is clearly visible from the air. Determining the position of any buildings within this overall structure is not so easy, however. The first order of the day, then, is for geophysics to survey the highest point on the hill – the most likely site for the main castle buildings.

Trench One is opened over some masonry that has been revealed by erosion caused by walkers following a popular local footpath. And when the first geophysics results are processed in mid-morning, Trenches Two and Three are positioned over areas that the survey results suggest could contain buildings. Before long Phil Harding, in charge of Trench Two, has uncovered masonry, and within the hour glazed medieval floor tile is cropping up all over the place.

Curtain wall
In Trench One it looks as though the main defensive wall of the castle has been discovered. Digger Barney Sloane, at any rate, is convinced. 'This must be the main curtain wall of the castle,' he enthuses. The same trench also uncovers the foundations of an ancillary building. Over in Trench Three (another possible site for a substantial building), meanwhile, Carenza has started to find evidence for building material such as dressed stone and roof tile. The trench has also uncovered fragments of window glass and some medieval pottery. By the end of the day Phil has the prettiest find of the day, however: a silver medieval penny.

Buildings under the debris
Day Two continues as Day One with the Team trying to uncover some solid evidence for the location of buildings. The diggers have been working their way through rubble in the upper layers of the trenches and the hopes of the Team are pinned on finding evidence for buildings beneath the debris. Trench Four is opened over a new area identified by the geophysics surveys with the aim of locating a gatehouse.

In Trench Two, after shifting large amounts of rubble, Phil finally hits a solid course of stonework: the wall of a structure has been found. Meanwhile, Carenza has uncovered some of the best-prepared stone from the site together with a flat mortared surface, which could be either a floor or the remains of a wall. The possible gatehouse trench has revealed yet more roof tile and some good quality sherds of medieval pottery, but the gatehouse itself remains elusive. By the end of the day, the most promising trench seems to be Phil's, where substantial stonework could be part of a very large building: has the team found the castle's great hall?

Final day
The final day sees a new trench placed on the site of some interesting geophysics results, which could indicate the other end of the great hall partially uncovered by Phil in Trench Two. With various demands now being made on the diggers it is decided to shut down Trench Four, where the search for a gatehouse was conducted. The final analysis of the excavation evidence – including likely post holes from a timber-reinforced bank and ditch – is that although no gatehouse has been discovered here, there was probably some kind of timber structure in this area as part of the early castle defences.

At Trench Three, Carenza has also come to some conclusions. The flat surface seems actually to have been part of a level yard rather than a standing building. Carenza has also found a good collection of building stone within the yard, some of which bears masons' marks, whereby the craftsmen who dressed the stone marked it with their own distinctive signs so that they could be correctly credited with the work when production totals were added up and piecework payments made.

Demolition, revival and decline
Overall the site has revealed a similar story regarding the use of the castle. Early evidence points towards the origins of the castle as a Norman defensive stronghold. The rubble layers indicate a phase of demolition and decline. Then, later in the medieval period, the site appears to have experienced a revival, only to face further decline and at some point systematic removal of the main bulk of the castle's stone again later in the period.