Clitheroe Castle, Clitheroe, Lancashire- Archaeological Investigation

In December 2006, Oxford Archaeology North was commissioned by Ribble Valley Borough Council to undertake an archaeological evaluation at Clitheroe Castle, Lancashire (centred at SD 7424 4169). The site is a designated Scheduled Monument, which incorporates several structures, including Grade I and Grade II Listed Buildings. The archaeological evaluation was carried out in January 2007, and was required to inform and support the Listed Building and Scheduled Monument Consent applications for a proposed redevelopment of Clitheroe Castle Museum, and associated enhancement of the site. In particular, the proposed redevelopment of the museum allows for the erection of a new link building that will provide level access between the existing museum and adjacent outbuildings, but necessitating the localised excavation of foundations through archaeological deposits to the level of the solid geology. As part of a wider programme of enhancement of the site, it was proposed to erect floodlighting around the castle keep, install audio equipment, and remove sections of tarmac footpath.
The archaeological evaluation comprised the excavation of nine small trenches, which were placed around the castle keep and to the rear of the museum. The trenches were intended to establish the presence, depth, character, date and significance of any surviving archaeological deposits across the Scheduled Monument, and assess the impact of the proposed schemes of redevelopment and enhancement of the site.