ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle

Archaeologists from the University of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ have been working on a major project to recover and promote ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle, a key element of the city’s forgotten medieval heritage, and investigating how we can use archaeology to help regenerate the city of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.

A CGI reconstruction of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle.

Our archaeologists have been at the heart of a major project to highlight the significance of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle - both in the past and in the present. They have reconstructed the story of its origins and development, and have demonstrated the impact of its ‘afterlife’ on the urban fabric of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ. They have given ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ a deep history. But that is only the beginning! Our understanding of the archaeology of the castle site is central to efforts to regenerate Castlegate - once the heart of the city.

Our Research

Screenshot of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle Film

Watch: ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle: Excavating the Past; Building the Future

A brand new film exploring the Castlegate project, what it means for our conception of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ's heritage, and how the project is using archaeology to regenerate the Castlegate area of the city

Featuring a panel discussion about the project from Festival of the Mind 2020
ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle Book Cover

Now Available: ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle: Archaeology, Archives, Regeneration, 1927-2018

In ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle: Archaeology, Archives, Regeneration, 1927-2018, written by Professor John Moreland, Professor Dawn Hadley from the University of York, and Ashley Tuck and Mili Rajic from Wessex Archaeology, the castle’s impressive history is brought to light for the first time and is placed alongside some of Britain’s greatest castles.

Uncovering ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ's castle

Professor John Moreland of the Department of Archaelogy overlooks the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle excavation site.

Watch: A groundbreaking moment

Professor John Moreland from The University of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ introduces Wessex Archaeology’s new excavations on the site of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle, along with the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ archaeology students digging there.
An augmented reality reconstruction of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle shows computer-generated figures and horses crossing a drawbridge to the castle.

Watch: Archaeology and augmented reality

Working from previously unexplored archives and making use of exciting new technologies, our Department of Archaeology and our School of Architecture are digging into ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s hidden history to bring this incredible hidden fortress back to life.

Read more

A computer screen shows a CGI visual reconstruction of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle.

The story so far

The Department of Archaeology at the University of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ is working on a major project to recover and promote ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle: a key element of the city’s forgotten medieval heritage.
A computer screen shows a CGI visual reconstruction of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle.

Bringing the castle to life

In another facet of this interdisciplinary project, the castle has been brought to life in a unique augmented reality experience, believed to be the most accurate visual impression of the castle ever produced.
A group photograph of the team taking part in the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Castle excavation.

Student stories

Four undergraduate students have taken part in five-week placements on the excavations, each gaining valuable experience of working both on a commercial archaeological project and a community heritage initiative.

See also