{"id":1982,"date":"2023-02-08T09:42:54","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T09:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/?p=1982"},"modified":"2023-02-08T09:43:11","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T09:43:11","slug":"the-castle-studies-trust-five-projects-for-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/2023\/02\/08\/the-castle-studies-trust-five-projects-for-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"The Castle Studies Trust five projects for 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Castle Studies Trust have awarded five grants totalling \u00a335,000 to support research into castles. This is a record amount for the Trust, and as we enter our tenth year as a charity, we could not have managed this without our supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We will bring you updates from these projects throughout the year as the teams get stuck in. But first, let\u2019s get to know them a bit better. They are from across England, Scotland, and Wales and take different approaches to understanding castles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/eepurl.com\/bDEO0H\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bamburgh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bamburgh_2006_closeup.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bamburgh_2006_closeup-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A stone building with a square tower in the middle. It stands on an outcrop, prominent in the landscape. In the foreground is a beach.\" class=\"wp-image-1986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bamburgh_2006_closeup-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bamburgh_2006_closeup-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bamburgh_2006_closeup-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bamburgh_2006_closeup-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bamburgh_2006_closeup-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bamburgh Castle on the coast of Northumberland. Photo by Michael Hanselmann via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Bamburgh_2006_closeup.jpg\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a>, licensed CC-BY-SA 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Standing on a rocky outcrop on the coast of Northumberland, Bamburgh\u2019s history stretches back to the early medieval period when it was home to a palace of the Kings of Northumbria. Bamburgh Castle itself was owned by royalty at various points, and rebuilt in the 18th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bamburgh is a massive site: its history has been illuminated by excavations, and there is still more to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Joanne Kirton and Graeme Young of the Bamburgh Research Project plan to carry out a geophysical survey and a masonry survey of the castle\u2019s outworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dunoon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/0\/0a\/Dunnon_Castle%2C_Argyll_and_Bute%2C_Scotland.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The mound at Dunoon Castle. Photo by Rosser1954 via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Dunnon_Castle,_Argyll_and_Bute,_Scotland.jpg\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a>, licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A castle at Dunoon was first mentioned in the late 13th century but may be older. The ruins visible today date from the 14th century. It stands on a hill on the coast of the Firth of Clyde. The castle was besieged and captured multiple times over its centuries-long history and became a royal residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the castle\u2019s royal links, little is known about its layout and dating. Dr. Manda Forster\u2019s team at DigVentures will carry out geophysical surveys (resistivity and magnetometry) of the mound and the area around it to find out where there may be buried walls, foundations, or other archaeological remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They will also organise workshops for the local community to learn how geophysics work. So as well as learning more about the castle, they may inspire the next generation of archaeologists!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lowther<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Lowther+Castle+Stead\/@54.6102279,-2.7472491,421m\/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x487cfaf7e6090027:0xb936a0e96b5c9f21!8m2!3d54.6102782!4d-2.7464856\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"539\" src=\"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Lowther-Google-map-1024x539.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1990\" srcset=\"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Lowther-Google-map-1024x539.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Lowther-Google-map-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Lowther-Google-map-768x404.jpg 768w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Lowther-Google-map.jpg 1368w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Google Map of the medieval Lowther Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The present Lowther Castle was built in the 17th century, but a few hundred metres north lie the medieval remains of a castle and possible deserted village. Lancaster University Archaeology Unit surveyed the earthworks in the 1990s, but there has been no other archaeological investigation since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being able to date the site would be a crucial step in understanding the Norman influence in the region. Could this be part of the remains of the Norman conquest of the Kingdom of Cumbria in the late 11th century?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Sophie Ambler has devised the project to carry out geophysical surveys at Lowther Castle followed by excavations. Working with the University of Central Lancashire and Allen Archaeology, this aims to establish the site\u2019s building chronology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Picton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/geograph-6994339-by-Ruth-Sharville.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/geograph-6994339-by-Ruth-Sharville.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1983\" srcset=\"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/geograph-6994339-by-Ruth-Sharville.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/geograph-6994339-by-Ruth-Sharville-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/geograph-6994339-by-Ruth-Sharville-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Picton Castle in 2021 by Ruth Sharvile, via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geograph.org.uk\/photo\/6994339\">Geograph<\/a>. Licensed CC-BY-SA 2.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Pembroke\u2019s Picton Castle is a medieval building with later alterations and additions. It is uncertain when it was built and by who, but it is likely to have been established in about 1300 by Sir John Wogan. Picton has an unusual layout but may have parallels with French medieval castles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Neil Ludlow and the Dyfed Archaeological Trust will carry out a measured survey of the building, recording its structure and creating a photographic record of the site. This will be an invaluable resource to understand the site, and help show the castle\u2019s development over the centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wigmore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/01-Wigmore-Castle-02-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/01-Wigmore-Castle-02-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/01-Wigmore-Castle-02-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/01-Wigmore-Castle-02-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/01-Wigmore-Castle-02-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/01-Wigmore-Castle-02-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/01-Wigmore-Castle-02-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo of Wigmore \u00a9 Philip Hume<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Wigmore was amongst the early castles established in England in the wake of the Norman conquest. It was founded by William Fitz Osbern, Earl of Hereford and later became the home of the Mortimer family. They were an influential family in the Welsh marches, and they developed the castle to reflect their growing power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Small-scale excavations at Wigmore and geophysical surveys in the 1990s demonstrated the archaeological potential of the site, but what is missing is a reconstruction of how it looked during its heyday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chris Jones-Jenkins will create a reconstruction of how Wigmore Castle used to appear. This will draw on archaeological and historical sources to bring the reconstruction to life. You may also have seen Chris\u2019 work with his reconstructions of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.castlestudiestrust.org\/Ruthin-Castle.html\">Ruthin<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.castlestudiestrust.org\/Holt-Castle-Denbighshire.html\">Holt<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/eepurl.com\/bDEO0H\">Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter<\/a> to receive updates on these projects and our other ongoing work in the field of castle studies.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Header image: Bamburgh Castle by Michael Hanselmann via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Bamburgh_2006_closeup.jpg\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a>, licensed CC-BY-SA 3.0.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Castle Studies Trust have awarded five grants totalling \u00a335,000 to support research into castles. This is a record amount for the Trust, and as we enter our tenth year as a charity, we could not have managed this without our supporters. We will bring you updates from these projects throughout the year as the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/2023\/02\/08\/the-castle-studies-trust-five-projects-for-2023\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The Castle Studies Trust five projects for 2023<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[444,9,7,8],"tags":[50,447,451,455,314],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1982"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1982"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1992,"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1982\/revisions\/1992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/castlestudiestrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}