EDO208 - Castle Hill, Shaftesbury; excavations 1947-1949

E Jervoise conducted excavations at Shaftesbury Castle on behalf of the Shaftesbury Historical Society between 1947 and 1949. The Castle Hill enclosure was systematically trenched during that time. An area of about 50 feet by 35 feet was cleared and another trench about 100 feet long was driven over the bank enclosing the promontory in the direction of Old Brow House. No certain traces of sturctures were found, although the remains of at least three tripod pitchers were though to date from the 12th-13th centuries. A pre-conquest 'curb chain' was also recovered. A trench dug to the bottom of 'Cobblers Pit' also produced a cut halfpenny of Stephen. The castle is thought to date from the reign of Stephen and may represent an unlicensed or Adulterine castle of that period [1].