Sizergh Castle, Cumbria- Recording of a Culvert and Well

In May 2006, Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) were commissioned by the National Trust to undertake a programme of recording during the course of renewal works for services at Sizergh Castle, Cumbria (SD 49850 88000). Sizergh Castle, a National Trust property, is located approximately 3km to the south of Kendal, on the west side of the Kent valley.
During works on the terrace overlooking the rock garden, to the north-east of the North Wing of the Castle, a large capstone was revealed. This was removed, revealing a broadly north-west/south-east aligned culvert, with two side culverts opposite each other, aligned north-east/south-west. The main culvert was constructed of unmortared roughly-finished limestone blocks; the base was likely to have been of slate, although at the time of recording, this was obscured by a layer of large pebbles and gravel introduced by disturbance associated with the present works. An internal recess, observed in the north-western part of the enclosed culvert, may have been a space to allow individuals undertaking internal maintenance work to turn round. The side culverts, adjoining the main structure at a slightly raised level, were of identical construction, with their bases lined with slate. The south-western side culvert appeared to be heading towards a well, located against the wall of the North Wing, whilst that to the north-east, together with several parallel structures, their entrances revealed by flashing a torch north-westwards up the culvert, ran in the direction of the limestone rock garden. To the south-east, the main culvert continued for 7.7m, before reaching the line of an eastern projection of the central range of the Castle. Investigation works using dye to trace the course of the culvert were undertaken, which proved that the culvert issued into the lake, although the source of the culvert remains unknown.