SDO15465 - Wareham - Norman Castle in Dorsets Domesday Borough: Report on Ground Penetrating Radar and Magnetometer Surveys, November 2009.

'In August 2008 the Dorset Castles Historic Research Group (DCRG) was awarded a grant … to research the Norman Castles which may have been established after the conquest in 1066 in the four Domesday boroughs in Dorset. This research included locating historical documents, geophysical and topographical surveys where possible and ultimately publication and museum exhibitions for the four sites. The only remaining visible motte and known castle foundations is that of Wareham, whereas the site at Castle Hill, Shaftesbury is contentious with no well defined motte or bailey. The exact position of the castle at Bridport has yet to be established whilst the probable location at Dorchester has been suggested by Antiquarian records. Contemporary documentary evidence does suggest that they both existed after publication of the Domesday Survey in 1087. Excavation of both Dorchester in 1960/70s and Wareham in 1950's and 1999 recovered some details of the castles infrastructure.' ' The aim of the radar survey was to locate any major ditches that would have accompanied the construction of the motte and bailey.' The GPR survey, running eleven lines in a north/south direction to the north of the castle 'clearly show the existance of a substantial ditch commencing at around 14 to 18 meters north of the basseline and extending northward for a distance of approximately 16 to 18 metres. It is not clear wether the ditch followed the curve of the motte or ran in a straight line across the site to meet up with the Saxon Burh ditches located to the west of the castle. Further geophysical surveys are necessary to understand the route the ditch takes. ' ' To the south of the castle a substantial feature was located which is possibly the curtain wall, though there is no visible dating evidence.' A magnetometer survey over the same features proved to be inclonclusive due to the high levels of modern ferous interference