Following his and his team’s first visit to survey the inner ward of Cockermouth Castle Tom Addyman looks at what they have found so far.
The initial stages of survey were carried out at Cockermouth Castle, within the inner ward area. Adverse weather held off until gales forced an early retreat on the third day. In spite of that excellent survey coverage was achieved, principally establishing a survey control and data capture for photogrammetry. Great assistance was given by the estate in reduction of obscuring vegetation that revealing a number of areas that were long-obscured, and through the provision of high-level access. The initial survey stage also included a general photographic record and preliminary fabric analysis such as the image below of the hall range frontage – sketch plan.
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Initial processing of the imagery worked well leading, as intended, to the generation of dimensionally accurate projections to be used as a basis for a survey drawing set. In purely visual terms some striking individual images emerged, such as a vertical projection of the vaulted ceiling structure of the cellarage beneath the kitchen tower and elevation views within the kitchen interior.
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Better access to the fabric allowed better understanding of the evidence for the evolving hall range arrangements (hall entrance and junction with the kitchen range and general view of hall range, north wall. Examination of the surviving footings of the hall range’s courtyard frontage led to a preliminary reconstruction of its former appearance (image – preliminary sketch reconstruction of hall range frontage).
Once image processing is complete a follow on survey trip will involve detailed marking up of the imagery with phasing data and other analytical information. There will also be a review of early records of the castle with the estate archivist and volunteer team.