Anglo-Saxon hall unearthed at Bamburgh Castle

The research group started in 1996 to investigate the history of the castle

An archaeological research team in Northumberland has unearthed a medieval hall underneath Bamburgh Castle.

Bamburgh Castle Research Project dug up a small trench under the inner courtyard at the core of the castle and discovered an Anglo-Saxon hall.

The team believes that the discovery probably dates back to medieval times.

The dig was carried out after the researchers invited Channel 4's Time Team to the castle to help them with their latest archaeological project.

Graham Young, Director of Bamburgh Castle Research Project, said: "Although it's a small trench, because we've seen rock-cut structural features elsewhere, we can fit that into a background.

"We know it's occupied, it's written about in contemporary texts so it's fascinating to see the actual material itself, the archaeology."

Depth of history

From the small trench, the teams discovered a posthole sealed over by a mortar spread right in the main bedrock of the castle.

They believe it is a medieval floor surface and the posthole underneath could date back even earlier than medieval times.

Bamburgh Castle is a Grade I listed building in Northumberland

Mr Young said: "It's brilliant, it's a perfect excuse to go and actually look right at the heart of the fortress because you need a good excuse to go right into the very focus of everything and it fits in.

"We've been there for quite a while now and it's very nice to get lots of external experts in and sort of see it through fresh eyes."

The Time Team archaeologists were at the site for three days.

Mr Young said: "We expected it be be chaotic having a film crew arrive and we weren't disappointed in any way because it was.

"They did an amazing job, much better than we could ever have done in reinstating the turf, which I'm sure Davie, who cuts the grass lovingly, was very relieved about."

The show airs on Sunday, 24 April at 1730 BST on Channel 4.