Where recording is a necessary part of a programme of repair works, it may be eligible for funding under any of the EH grant schemes (Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings Grants, Church Grants, or Cathedral Grants). Understanding and interpreting a structure is an essential first step in repair work, and creating an appropriate record of the work carried out is an important final stage in most repair programmes. Survey drawings of a building may be essential to provide a properly costed specification for archaeological repairs, or to targeting areas which require repair. They can make the work of engineers, architects, and specialist conservators much easier, and ensure that the impact of works is clearly identified. Most grants under these budgets involve the preparation of measured drawings and conditions surveys prior to repair and often includes the use of photogrammetry supported by analysis.
The last phase of a long running programme of repairs at Newark Castle which concluded in 1993 included archaeological investigation and recording by the Trent and Peak Archaeological Trust, funded by EH through the regional team. The repairs related to the 12th-century gatehouse and accommodation range of Alexander 'the Magnificent', Bishop of Lincoln. Access to the castle fabric during repairs allowed significant advances to be made in the understanding of the development of the castle. Evidence was found of the use of timber reinforcement of the stone walls, a technique common in French castles but little-documented in England. It was also possible to shed light on the layout and access arrangements to the rooms and on their functions, which has important consequences for the understanding of other examples of the relatively small group of Episcopal castles to which Newark belongs. The evidence gleaned during repairs will also allow interpretation of the building for the benefit of visitors, for whom access, it is hoped, will be provided with the aid of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
