Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – Throughout archaeological excavations in Chichester’s Priory Park, archaeologists unearthed stays of a Norman-era defensive tower that defended Chichester’s Fortress.
Shortly after the Norman Conquest (Eleventh-century invasion and occupation of England), Roger de Montgomery (also called Roger the Nice) ordered the development of a fort at Chichester. The fort was considered one of 11 fortified websites to be established in Sussex earlier than 1100.
Picture credit score: Chichester & District Archaeology Society
In the course of the latest two-week excavation, led by Chichester District Council’s archaeologist James Kenny in partnership with the Chichester and District Archaeological Society (CDAS), the stays of a tower have been uncovered. This marks the eighth excavation on this sequence, concentrating on an space north of The Guildhall.
In response to geophysicists’ work and ground-penetrating radar scans, the excavations on the website have been performed since 2022, offering priceless insights into the positioning’s historic significance.
In 2024, the workforce found the stays of a masonry causeway and bridge that will have related to the motte and bailey fort. Additionally they uncovered a part of a ditch that encircled it. The targets for this yr included finding the internal fringe of the ditch and excavating additional to find out its depth and attain the bottom of the masonry foundations.
“Till we uncovered the stonework, it was believed that the fort was purely a timber construction, however the discovery of a strong masonry causeway — and now tower — signifies that the fort was rebuilt in stone, one thing that would solely have been sanctioned by somebody in authority,” says James Kenny, Archaeology Officer at Chichester District Council.
“That is massively thrilling as a result of it locations this fort and the significance of this space in a distinct gentle to what we beforehand thought.”
This important construction extends 1.7 meters from its basis to simply beneath floor stage and measures roughly 6 meters by 10 meters in plan.
The excavation at Priory Park, Chichester. In 2024, the workforce found the stays of a masonry causeway and bridge that will have related to the motte and bailey fort. Picture credit score: Chichester District Council
The following step for the researchers is to find out who commissioned the development, suggesting it was somebody with appreciable authority. Probably the most possible figures and each of great authority are the Earl of Arundel from the mid-Twelfth century or, if it was constructed at a later date, King Henry II, who dominated from 1154 to 1189.
The fort was constructed to strengthen the authority of the feudal lord throughout that period, and designed to impress. On the identical time, the aim was to claim dominance by the usage of superior structure and the best stonemasons.
And as James Kenny stated, “the fort was constructed to bolster the ability of the feudal lord of the time and would have been constructed to impress and dominate utilizing the best structure and finest stonemasons of the time. It has been a really thrilling conclusion — these types of archaeological discoveries don’t occur typically in a lifetime, and it is definitely the best piece of medieval structure that I’ve ever excavated.”
In the course of the excavation, the workforce additionally uncovered remnants of the Medieval Franciscan friary that when occupied the positioning. Amongst these findings have been examples of its intricately adorned ground tiles, offering priceless insights into the historic and architectural significance of the friary.
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The date of the Franciscans’ first arrival in Chichester will not be identified. Nonetheless, it could have been quickly after they arrived in England in 1225, as Brother Walter de Colevile, one of many first friars to come back to this nation, had connections in Chichester. They’d undoubtedly been settled some little time earlier, earlier than 1253 when Henry III confirmed the grant made of their favour by his brother Richard, earl of Cornwall, of a lane adjoining their premises.
There may be a lot historical past in Chichester, a small Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlement and a significant market city from these occasions by Norman and medieval occasions to the current day.
Subsequently, this discovery is little question, a big achievement in archaeology, as such findings are uncommon. It stands out as an distinctive instance of medieval structure, representing one of many most interesting items ever excavated by specialists within the area.
All findings from the excavation will likely be meticulously documented, and a number of the stays completely to the general public.
This initiative could be a part of a definite venture and would require securing exterior funding. In response to Councillor Invoice Brisbane, Cupboard Member for Planning at Chichester District Council, these excavations persistently reveal priceless insights into our native historical past, with this yr’s discovery being no exception. The unearthing of a barbican is especially important because it alters our earlier understanding of the fort’s construction and historical past.
See additionally: Extra Archaeology Information
“It is also unbelievable that residents and guests have been in a position to watch and see this native archaeology in motion and witness the painstaking work that goes into understanding extra about our previous. I would prefer to thank all of the volunteers which have helped with these digs over time — I do know the workforce have obtained some very constructive suggestions following this yr’s work,” Invoice Brisbane stated.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Employees Author
