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Norfolk Eastern Daily Press The secrets of a medieval palace are about to be uncovered as archaeologists excavate a dungeon in the centre of Wisbech. 
For the first time, the grounds and vaults at Wisbech Castle are being studied to reveal the mysteries hidden over the last 500 years.It is believed that the dig, which started on Tuesday, could unearth the walls of Bishop's Palace - a tall 15th century stone building, destroyed nearly 200 years after it was built. Not much is known about the palace, also used as a prison, but a recent ground survey revealed possible foundations or disturbances beneath the surface, which could provide clues. The dig was organised by Geoff Wilkinson, who has managed the castle for Cambridgeshire County Council for about 10 years. "During the Bishop's Palace period, it was used as a prison for Roman Catholics, mainly priests. They were here for 30 years so we just don't know what we will find," said Mr Wilkinson. "There's certainly lots of pottery coming out, which is the means of dating the various levels. It's clever stuff." Local school pupils were also invited to the dig, where they could watch the experts in action and have a go at a mock excavation in sandpits. "It's a superb opportunity for the schoolchildren to see what's going on and gain a bit of knowhow," said Mr Wilkinson. "It's something that is really quite interesting and useful for them to know about their own town. "This was the very centre from where the town grew. It's the very heart of Wisbech." Several trenches have already been dug out on the lawn, with further excavation sites inside the vaults, or dungeons. About 80 volunteers are expected to help during the two-week project, which was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The dig is being headed by Taleyna Fletcher, for Oxford Archaeology East, who said there was currently little information about the site's medieval legacy. "We are looking for structural evidence of the palace and other buildings on the site," she said. "This is a very good opportunity and very exciting." There have been several grand buildings on the site. The Norman Castle stood from 1087; Bishop's Palace from 1487 and Thurloe's Mansion from 1656. Wisbech Castle, as it is today, was built in 1816 using material from the mansion. The dig finishes on Tuesday, September 29 and the public can watch the archaeologists at work.
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