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Shrawardine Castle, Shropshire

This electrical resistance survey (approximately 3 hectares) has been draped over a 3D terrain model with base plan and applied perspective to reveal the layout of major groups of features within the survey area. This is an early castle site of motte and bailey form which developed through numerous phases into what would appear to have been a fairly substantial stone castle. The masonry was systematically robbed away after a siege in the English Civil War and subsequently to build dwellings in the village. Very little is known about the structure of the castle and the earliest plan in the 1700's shows that little survived at that date.

Both electrical resistance and magnetic gradiometry were commissioned in an attempt to learn more about the buried structure. The electrical resistance survey was able to demonstrate the existance of several discrete phases and locate the two baileys of the castle. Only one was known to exist before but the survey revealed most of the circuit of what seems to be the original Normanesque bailey. The footings of an early tower on the motte were discovered and also the site of the village (bottom left in image) cleared in the 1600's from around the castle's remains. Many enigmatic structures were found, including tower bases, sections of wall, a large tower or barbican adjacent to the motte and several former lanes and enclosures. A interesting discovery was the site of an orchard (top of image) a little way from the castle and a boundary wall that would appear to date from the emparkation of the site sometime in the 1500's, both crossed by what is presumably a later lane (diagonal dark smudge, top centre).

Client

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust