Bishop's Wyke

A trench was placed across the predicted location of the 12/13th century moat ditch but due to its depth, and flooding from the high water table, hand excavation of the ditch was not possible. However an auger survey was carried out ( using a kind of drill with a spiral tip which brings soil to the surface for analysis ). This allowed us to establish the shape of the original ditch, and how it had later been filled in with organic and sandy clays. Further Archaeologist augering the moat ditchnorth along the line of the moat, another auger survey showed that the embankment at this point is made up of sand quarried from elsewhere on site, to make a raised walkway across the moat, probably as part of the nineteenth century alterations to the grounds. The depth of the moat at this point was found to be 3.5m.

Recent geophysical workWe have had a geophysical survey carried out in the area within the moat. This was hampered by the magnetic effects of the play equipment but, where a clear survey was possible, it gave no evidence of any buildings. So the question of whether the moated site was ever occupied remains to be answered.