Wessex Archaeology Undertaking a Community Archaeology Investigation

20th August 2018

Wessex Archaeology is delighted to be undertaking a community archaeology investigation as part of Sheffield City Council's Castlegate Kickstart regeneration programme.

The work has been commissioned by the Council to determine the level of preservation of the remains of Sheffield's 13th-century castle. Wessex Archaeology is working in partnership with the University of Sheffield and the Friends of Sheffield Castle in what is the first ever comprehensive investigation of the whole site since the castle was demolished at the end of a Civil War siege, made possible by the demolition of Castle Market in 2016. Previous archaeological work was confined to either observation by dedicated amateurs when construction was taking place and two trenches on the market's upper loading bay back in 2002, which were excavated by the University of Sheffield's commercial team. While working alongside professional archaeologists, members of the local community will have the opportunity to develop archaeological investigation skills and share the excitement of piecing together Sheffield's medieval past and its industrial heritage. We will be offering tours of the site to local schools and hosting site open days as part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days and Big Draw initiatives on the 8/15 September and 6/7 October. On 6 October, visitors to the site can meet with artists using the site as inspiration for their work. The works will comprise the excavation of eleven trenches across the site, which are designed to determine the level of preservation of the historic castle deposits as well as reveal more information about the post-medieval use of the site. The 13th-century castle was surrounded by a moat, and one trench will investigate the moat to a depth of 4-6m, in an area adjacent to Exchange Street. Following the demolition of the castle in the 17th and 18th centuries the site was home to a bowling green, steel works, cutlery and slaughterhouse before the construction of the Castle Market. Unfortunately all volunteer positions are now fully booked up but we will regularly update the results of our work on one of Sheffield's best kept historical secrets at https://www.wessexarch.co.uk.