Priory Park dig uncovers Norman Castle hidden for hundreds of years

Image credits: Chichester District Council

It was uncovered during a two-week dig - and originally included refectory, library, and even a brewery

A Norman castle that laid undiscovered for hundreds of years in Chichester's Priory Park has been uncovered by archaeologists. 

The castle, which has been buried since the Middle ages, and a masonry structure surrounding it was found during a two-week dig led by the District Council's Archaeologist James Kenny and the Archaeology Society.

Also discovered were the foundations of walls thought to be associated with a building that was part of a medieval Franciscan Friary from the site, and a limestone wall, which pre-dates the building itself. 

Built sometime between the 13th to late 16th centuries, the friary would have included a church, dormitory, refectory, library, cloister and wash house, guest house and a brewery. In the 1530s, the church was converted to a council house and the rest of the buildings into a mansion house.

James explained the process of the dig: "“We carried out geophysical surveys on the site so we had a good idea of where to find the walls of the friary buildings.” 

“What is remarkable is that the wall was placed right hard up against the outside edge of an enormous ditch which is almost certainly the ditch created for the motte.”

“The castle was probably built in 1066 or 1067 directly after the Norman Invasion by Earl Roger Montgomery who was one of the most important Norman barons, in charge of most of what would become West Sussex. 

"Only a small part of the motte remains today, but back then it would have been a significant structure – four or five times bigger than it is today – and probably comparable in size to the one at Arundel Castle.

"The material from the ditch was used to build the motte, which was intended to intimidate the Urban English population and to dissuade them from rebelling against the new Norman lords.

“What we have found is the sloping edge of the ditch, and it’s exciting because this is the first time that anyone will have seen it since the Middle Ages.

"This ditch would have been very wide and very deep, and because of the dig we’ll now be able to determine more accurately just how big it would have been.” 

Alongside the buildings, glazed tiles and Roman pottery, tiles and coins were also found. 

More from Sussex News

On Air Now Paul Williams 7:00am - 11:00am
Now Playing
You Came Kim Wilde
Recently Played
  • Poison Arrow ABC 10:38
  • I Can't Dance Genesis & Phil Collins 10:34
  • The One That Got Away Katy Perry 10:28