Time Team in Oakham

Any one that knows me knows that I love watching the programme Time Team on Channel 4. There is something I find fascinating how they find the remains of building in fields and build up a picture of what was once there and how the people lived. It like a form of detective work done against the clock and because the experts are so passionate about what they do the programme really holds your interest.

Current the televisions team of archaeologists are digging at Oakham Castle which boasts best example of a 12th century hall in Britain, but other than the earth works that is about all that remains on the surface. At one time the castle had walls, a moat, drawbridge and guard house and towers in defensive positions, but it was all on a small scale which reflected on the small size of the town. Written evidence suggest that the Norman castle which remains on the site replaced an earlier Anglo Saxon castle that was dismantled by Walchelin de Ferriers, Lord of the Manor of Oakham between 1180 and 1190 during the reign of Henry I.

The primary task facing the Time Team will be to catalogue the 12th century remains they find within the inner ward of the castle, but they are hoping to go back further than that. They are hoping to find the remains of the Anglo Saxon castle and attempt to discover evidence for the Anglo Saxon royal burh. You can see clips of the dig on the Team Time YouTube video channel by following this link.

They started woking on the dig on Monday and they will remain at the site until Friday. In order to complete their work the castle is closed off to the general public and it seems the press. Hopefully they will find what they are looking for and we will know more about this historic site but we will have to wait until the show is shown on Channel 4 between January and March next year.