Oswestry archaeological dig revealing secrets hidden for centuries

An archaeological dig on the top of the mound of Oswestry's motte and bailey castle is only into its first few days yet it has already produced some fascinating results. The dig is part of ongoing work, now in its second year, led by archaeologist Roger Cooper.

More than a dozen archaeologists and skilled volunteers are giving up their time to work on the site high above the modern-day town until September 18.

Until this week small sections of walls stood on the grassed mound of the castle.

Volunteers have now uncovered more stone walling underneath the earth which, Mr Cooper says, have begun to answer some of the questions the dig was posing.

He said: "We wanted to know if there were any remains below ground and we've already discovered there certainly are."

He said that it was now suspected that the eastern wall was not 'in situ' – that is the stones are not where they would have been originally. However, he said the western wall was now thought to be original.

"We are beginning to suspect that we have found the wall edge and possibly evidence of rooms inside the castle walls," he said. "It is not often that you find something on only the second day of a dig. But here we are already answering some very interesting questions. It is very exciting."

The dig has been made possible thanks to support from Oswestry Town Council, Borderland Rotary, Historic England and the national Heritage Open Days body.

The dig will play a part in the Heritage Open Days programme with talks on how it is progressing and also the chance for the public to take part in washing some of the 'finds' in an event at Oswestry Museum.

The castle is thought to have been built from wood before 1086. It was rebuilt in stone in the middle of the 12th century.