A site such as The Court in Cadoxton needs some level of excavation to really understand what it means to an area.
Digs at The Court were carried out by Gary Tyley with the occasional help of a willing friend or two. The work was not easy and the appropriate skills were essential. The dig had to be recorded in detail as the findings need to be written up in an acceptable format in order that the work was of maximum benefit for those coming after him.
Some of the digs generated answers quite quickly whereas Gary needed to go down a long way in some areas although his mining was often rewarded, sometimes with results that surprised him.
Sometimes it became apparent within a foot or so that under the soil was simply the limestone outcrop on which the site stands. These tended to be ‘test’ digs to confirm that the plan Gary had in mind for the buildings was accurate.
His dig in the South West corner was his first and was extremely successful. His dig in front of the greenhouse surprised him. Not only did he have to dig much deeper than he expected but the wall he uncovered was not what should have been there on his analysis of the site.
The old medieval courthouse was to be found in the vegetable garden to the rear of the house but the one place not excavated is the lawn to the East of the house that appears to be the site of a great hall.