In May 2014 CBAS ran a community excavation for National Trust volunteers at Petworth Park. A number of different features found by geophysical investigation were excavated by a team of volunteers under the supervision of CBAS staff, and revealed a possible house platform and banks and ditches of Medieval and Post Medieval date. The team has now returned and is carrying out further excavations on an important late medieval/early Tudor site .
Additional info:
CBAS has been undertaking community archaeology projects for the National Trust at Petworth House. Two excavations have been carried out with volunteers in the grounds of Petworth House, combining research with training for the volunteers. The most important was carried out during the summer of 2014 when we investigated the possible site of Henry VIII’s banqueting house. Foundations and floors from a substantial building were found, and there were also hints of an earlier building below. The vast majority of the finds date to the 16th century, and include pottery, a variety of metal items including a gold ring, and two silver coins. The finds are concentrated in the period 1450-1575, although the main focus of activity appears to be during the reign of Elizabeth 1st. We also surveyed the standing buildings in the Cowyard at Petworth House. A total of 12 buildings were surveyed, with volunteers being provided with training in a series of dayschools run by the Sussex School of Archaeology, and then participating in the survey of the buildings with CBAS staff.