Day 9: Thursday 13th June

A very showery day on site, but a good turnout of enthusiastic volunteers nonetheless. Recording of Trenches 2 and 3 continued; this includes drawing scaled plans and sections, photographing features and completing 'context sheets' where all detailed information about each layer is recorded in-field, for use afterwards when it comes to compiling reports and physical access to the layer or feature is no longer possible.

Great progress was made in Trench 1 today, both inside and outside the flanker wall, new layers and features have been revealed, we will be recording and investigating these further tomorrow. The mortared, circular stone wall, which was partly uncovered during the course of an evaluative excavation carried out earlier in the year has re-emerged from beneath the rubble brick layer inside the flanker; the layer we left off at yesterday afternoon. This inner circular wall is most likely later in date than the flanker, and may have been constructed as part of an elaborate garden or water feature and making re-use of the 17th-century flanker wall foundations.

Volunteers Jan and Marketa excavating with Dermot in Trench 1.

Hopefully the weather will be a little better tomorrow, and allow us to have a much more productive day. Nevertheless, much was achieved today despite the weather conditions, and many thanks must go to our volunteers Li, Jan, Eoin, Paul, David and Marketa for all their help. A lovely story is emerging in Trench 1 and we are all greatly looking forward to see how this pans out.

Volunteers Jan and Marketa excavating with Grace in Trench 1

Volunteers Paul, Li and Eoin working hard in Trench 3