Time Team Dig at Oakham Castle, Rutland
After hearing reports that Tony Robinson and the Channel 4 television programme Time Team were in Oakham and had enjoyed a break at The Hornblower, I was lucky enough to stumble upon them at Oakham Castle.
This is what a notice outside the castle gates said about the dig
"Oakham Castle in Rutland is the best preserved example of a 12th century hall in Britain. Oakham was once the site of a royal Saxon town or 'burh' held by Edward the Confessor. Following the death of Edward's wife Edith in 1075 the site was seized by the Crown. It wasn't until 1180 that the then owner of the site, Wlkelin de Ferrers, replaced the Saxon site with an extensive high-staus complex.
The castle site is divided into two districts - the inner bailey or ward; consisting of the hall, the surrounding earthworks, the remains of a motte, two towers and an earth and stone built wall and the outer bailey; consisting of fishponds and earthwork remains.
in our summer room we have loads of
sale items alot with at least 75% off
£10 rail too.
shoes and hats reduced too.
tops trousers and skirts from 20% to 50%off
Contact: 0116 3667004
Valid until: Saturday, June 29 2013
The primary task facing the Time Team will be to characterise the 12th century remains within the inner ward. In addition we will be attempting to discover evidence for the Anglo Saxon royal burh."
I wasn't allowed into the castle grounds, so joined the crowd that had formed at the gates and was rewarded by a lovely 'smile to camera shot' - thank you Mr Robinson.
Comments
by nora_hs
Monday, February 04 2013, 3:17PM
“See Oakham Castle episode of Time Team this Sunday (10th February) at 4.25pm on Channel 4 http://tinyurl.com/a75pcks”
by lou_grant
Saturday, June 30 2012, 9:22PM
“Here, here. Well, I don't care what they say, I love the programme and Tony Robinson. Would be useful if people got their facts straight before writing a post!”
by peter99
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 8:39PM
“It's not a stately home owned by rich folks. Its a hall owned by Rutland County Council (and therefore by taxpayers). Get your facts straight.”
by TheGeofflane
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 5:12PM
“Time Team seems to divide its output between virgin open-country archaeology and visits like this to well-fed stately homes. Entirely personally, I much prefer to see Saxon, Roman and older remains discovered in open country. If the rich folks who own stately homes like Oakham and Belvoir Castle want further archaeological work done, let them pay for it by bringing in Leicester University and have it done properly. Not three-day keyhole surgery for the cameras, and free publicity to up their visitor numbers.”