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"Outstanding" smugglers tunnel unearthed beneath Castle Street
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| A worker crouches in the smugglers tunnel - which archaeologists suggest was used to move goods around into house in the town |
WORKMEN digging below Bridgwater's Castle Street stumbled across an "outstanding" piece of the town's medieval history last week, unseen for more than 700 years.
Wessex Water officials were renovating sewers underneath the street on Monday when they unearthed a smugglers tunnel and part of old curtain wall from Bridgwater Castle - leading one archaeologist to proclaim it "one of the most important finds of the 21st Century".
Bridgwater Castle dates back to 1200, where William Briwere built a complex of buildings covering eight acres across parts of present day Kings Square and Castle Street.
The giant structure massed next to the river and included a chapel, a kitchen, a cellar, stables and a dungeon.
Today, only the Water Gate and some walling on the West Quay and in Queen Street survive above ground.
But Wessex water workers made the historic discovery after digging ten feet into the ground at the bottom of Castle Street, while taking part in a major sewer regeneration project.
Heath Hayes, site agent for Wessex Water, said: "We were fully aware of the history here and were working with an archaeologist on site, so we did expect to come across it at some point.
"We had actually dug deep enough yesterday, but the archaeologist asked us if we could extend the hole to show a bit more of the castle, to which we agreed. It's a nice surprise to find something of this age."
Andy Tizzard, the onsite archaeologist from Context One Archaeological Services said the smugglers tunnel would have been used to transport goods from ships coming in on the River Parrett - and the passage was one of several leading to houses in the town.
Mr Tizzard then explained the significance of the find to the Mercury.
He said: "In my 30 years of being an archaeologist this is the first castle wall I know of to be found under a road. It is, in its own right, a quite exceptional find.
"This discovery enables historians to study just how people built a medieval castle in the West Country and this opportunity will never arise again.
"Wessex Water's absolute cooperation and commitment to preservation means we'll be able to document these building techniques as serious, credible evidence.
"I have no doubt that this is a find of national, as well as local, importance."
The excavation and discovery of the medieval wall will be recorded by archaeologists, before the workers finish up and the hole in the ground is sealed.
2:14pm Monday 10th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Edwin Malone, Taunton on 8:18pm Mon 10 Mar 08
The Blake Museum is perhaps Bridgwater"s finest institution, and I would like to offer the suggestion that a scale model of the ancient Castle, as near accurate as can be achieved, is included in the displays. I have no doubt a retired draughstman or architect could construct such a model, perhaps using scrap materials.
The Blake Museum is perhaps Bridgwater"s finest institution, and I would like to offer the suggestion that a scale model of the ancient Castle, as near accurate as can be achieved, is included in the displays. I have no doubt a retired draughstman or architect could construct such a model, perhaps using scrap materials.
Posted by: Charles Klein, Bath on 10:07am Tue 11 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Edwin Malone[/bold] wrote:
The Blake Museum is perhaps Bridgwater"s finest institution, and I would like to offer the suggestion that a scale model of the ancient Castle, as near accurate as can be achieved, is included in the displays. I have no doubt a retired draughstman or architect could construct such a model, perhaps using scrap materials.[/quote] Quite, a pertinent observation. Perhaps local students or pupils could undertake this task, basing their scale model on any known historical records and also the watercolour paintings of John Chubb, some of which I seem to recall depict the Castle ruins in the 18th century.
Edwin Malone wrote:
The Blake Museum is perhaps Bridgwater"s finest institution, and I would like to offer the suggestion that a scale model of the ancient Castle, as near accurate as can be achieved, is included in the displays. I have no doubt a retired draughstman or architect could construct such a model, perhaps using scrap materials.
Quite, a pertinent observation. Perhaps local students or pupils could undertake this task, basing their scale model on any known historical records and also the watercolour paintings of John Chubb, some of which I seem to recall depict the Castle ruins in the 18th century.
Posted by: Paul, Bridgwater on 3:23pm Wed 12 Mar 08
Better get Time Team in before the council builds over it all.
Better get Time Team in before the council builds over it all.
Posted by: steve broome, bridgwater on 7:37pm Wed 12 Mar 08
It is a shame that excavations could not continue while there was still a hole in the ground. I suppose it all comes down to money in the end, why cannot the local council put some funding into this remarkable find, it is also a shame that this towns history is going to be re-buried and more than likely forgotten!!!!
It is a shame that excavations could not continue while there was still a hole in the ground. I suppose it all comes down to money in the end, why cannot the local council put some funding into this remarkable find, it is also a shame that this towns history is going to be re-buried and more than likely forgotten!!!!
Posted by: Gerry Barton, Ramsgate on 3:45pm Fri 28 Mar 08
The idea that smugglers constructed those tunnels seems somewhat far-fetched. The quality of the brickwork suggests that they were sewers, built large enough for maintenance work to be carried out. Lets hope that the recording work being undertaken by archaeologists includes accurate, instrument-based surveying that can show whether the layout and gradients are keeping with those applicable to sewer tunnels.
The idea that smugglers constructed those tunnels seems somewhat far-fetched. The quality of the brickwork suggests that they were sewers, built large enough for maintenance work to be carried out. Lets hope that the recording work being undertaken by archaeologists includes accurate, instrument-based surveying that can show whether the layout and gradients are keeping with those applicable to sewer tunnels.
Posted by: Andrew Tizzard on 8:46pm Sat 29 Mar 08
I have read with interest the comments above. As the on site archaeologist, with over 30 years professional experience I would like to add some further comments. On the 'tunnels', the details listed in the newspaper article are less than complete and as scientific comment rarely attracts the readers attention or imagination the word 'smuggler' was slipped in by the newspaper. The tunnel in the photo is one of the smallest the others are much larger, 1.7 - 1.9 metre high, and are only selective in the premises they lead to. A study of the history of the area would give a much broader understanding of their possible uses, one of which suggests their use for uncustomized goods transfer. And to follow up on G Barton's comments regarding recording I would like to state that as a professional archaeologist working for a highly respected archaeological organisation, with our work quality checked by Somerset County Councils County Archaeologist I can assure the reader that my report will be scientific, accurate, with full interpretation based on the 'surveyed and recorded' evidence gathered during four weeks intensive on site investigations and not fantasy! It is extraordinary and naive for anyone to read a newspaper article and believe they can offer a valid suggestion and interpretation of a structure on the basis of a newspaper photo and associated words. As a further point Time Team could have taken this investigation no further or achieved any more. Discussions with Wessex Water have assured the preservation of the castle wall for prosperity through the construcion of a special viewing chamber which will allow access for scholars to study the wall. This has been constructed at considerable expense to Wessex Water. A full copy of the report will be available in pdf format free of charge via our offices. I hope this satisfies the critics and alleviates any worries about the wall being reburied for eternity.
I have read with interest the comments above. As the on site archaeologist, with over 30 years professional experience I would like to add some further comments. On the 'tunnels', the details listed in the newspaper article are less than complete and as scientific comment rarely attracts the readers attention or imagination the word 'smuggler' was slipped in by the newspaper. The tunnel in the photo is one of the smallest the others are much larger, 1.7 - 1.9 metre high, and are only selective in the premises they lead to. A study of the history of the area would give a much broader understanding of their possible uses, one of which suggests their use for uncustomized goods transfer. And to follow up on G Barton's comments regarding recording I would like to state that as a professional archaeologist working for a highly respected archaeological organisation, with our work quality checked by Somerset County Councils County Archaeologist I can assure the reader that my report will be scientific, accurate, with full interpretation based on the 'surveyed and recorded' evidence gathered during four weeks intensive on site investigations and not fantasy! It is extraordinary and naive for anyone to read a newspaper article and believe they can offer a valid suggestion and interpretation of a structure on the basis of a newspaper photo and associated words. As a further point Time Team could have taken this investigation no further or achieved any more. Discussions with Wessex Water have assured the preservation of the castle wall for prosperity through the construcion of a special viewing chamber which will allow access for scholars to study the wall. This has been constructed at considerable expense to Wessex Water. A full copy of the report will be available in pdf format free of charge via our offices. I hope this satisfies the critics and alleviates any worries about the wall being reburied for eternity.
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