Sheffield Castle experts unearth moat and drawbridge

Walls have been uncovered at the Sheffield Castle archaeological site

Archaeologists excavating the site of Sheffield's former castle have found part of a drawbridge and the remains of a potentially earlier stronghold.

Wessex Archaeology said experts had also found part of the Sheffield Castle moat and signs of the interior layout.

The discoveries were made during excavations for Sheffield Council's Castlegate Regeneration Project.

The revealed drawbridge pier has been unseen for centuries, the archaeologists said.

Ashley Tuck, lead archaeologist, said Sheffield Castle "keeps revealing its secrets".

"As well as uncovering the impressive gatehouse and drawbridge pier, we have uncovered parts of the castle's walls that were previously unknown," he said.

"The interior castle walls add to the picture of what this medieval power centre would have looked like during its heyday."

A mid-16th Century Nuremberg Jetton was discovered within the moat, from the time of Mary, Queen of Scots' imprisonment at the castle

Within the moat, a mid-16th Century Nuremberg Jetton was discovered, contemporary with Mary, Queen of Scots' imprisonment at the castle by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.

Mr Tuck said new evidence of a possible earlier and undocumented castle had been unearthed in the moat area.

He said: "This stands on the first page of the story of Sheffield and it is such a privilege to rewrite the opener to the city's story."

The Castlegate area of Sheffield dates back to the 11th Century and Sheffield Castle is widely regarded as the birthplace of the city.

The council plans to put the castle's remains on public display for the first time in centuries and create a brand new public space on the site of the old Castle Market.

Plans for the site include exposing part of the castle gatehouse and creating an events space

Castlegate forms part of the Gateway to Sheffield project, the council says.

An events space will be built on what is believed to be the site of a 17th Century bowling green, and the River Sheaf currently running underground at that point will be opened up, displaying the castle remains.

Ben Miskell, from the council, said the Castlegate site was "really progressing towards being an incredible public space".

"We are uncovering pieces of Sheffield's history we never knew were there before, giving us a fantastic glimpse into how our ancestors lived and used the site.

"The whole project is going to offer something very unique to the city in taking Sheffield right back to its beginning all those centuries ago."