Historic Properties
4.16.4 South East
Investigation and recording of the region's monuments was again very closely tied to programmes of conservation and display. Major recording work continues at Dover Castle, but works have also been undertaken elsewhere in the region. At Dover, a major programme of conservation on the exterior of the keep was preceded by a photogrammetric survey, which was then enhanced by archaeological recording when the keep was scaffolded. The results played an important role in informing the conservation programme. The survey suggests that the keep was constructed in the 1180s without scaffolding, using alternative dark and light bands of Caen stone and rubble. The survey yielded information about the form of the original roof, the drainage system, and the lighting. It also emphasised that the keep was not just defensive, but was also very much a highly visible symbol of royal power. This survey is continuing in 1998, focusing on the interior and the forebuilding. Elsewhere in Dover Castle work has begun on augmenting recordings of the great eighteenth- and nineteenth-century bastions and their associated defensive structures forming the post-medieval eastern defences of the castle. This is in conjunction with a planned programme of conservation. At Drop Redoubt, Western Heights, investigation of the main entrance is yielding more information about the early nineteenth-century swing bridge once located here.
At Richborough and Portchester, the Roman walls are being recorded using the new technique of orthophotography. This technique has been developed by the English Heritage Survey Team for use on historic buildings. An orthophotograph is an orthagonal projection that removes image distortions owing to camera tilt or changes in relief. Such distortions caused by changes of plane within an elevation often preclude use of the better-known rectified photography. This new technique is particularly useful for recording large expanses of irregular flint corework with a view to specifying repairs. It provides accurate, measurable images of very uneven surfaces with a precision similar to photogrammetry, but for a fraction of the cost. It also retains the textural and tonal information of a photograph, which is important in assessing repair requirements.
At Battle Abbey work proceeded on reroofing the Court House and inserting a new first floor on the same level as its sixteenth-century predecessor. This building is now the main entrance and shop. The interior had been excavated in 1994-5 by the English Heritage Central Archaeology Service. In 1997, however, a watching brief was undertaken on a service trench that cut along the southern side of the courthouse and gatehouse. This revealed a similar sequence of layers to those found by Guy Beresford during his 1987 work in the building west of the gatehouse and suggests the location of the eleventh-century gate passage. Now that conservation work is complete on this range of buildings, post-excavation work will begin to collate the excavation results.
At Camber Castle, near Rye in East Sussex, excavations were undertaken between 1963 and 1965 by Martin Biddle as part of the research for The History of the King's Works. In the 1970s and 1980s, further excavations were undertaken by Susan Ames, David Sherlock, and Anthony Streeten in advance of conservation works. In 1994 a standing building analysis was carried out by Caroline Atkins. The results of all this research are being synthesised by the Oxford Archaeological Unit in collaboration with the excavators with the view to publishing a monograph.
At Osborne House research has continued on the State Rooms, the picture hanging arrangements of 1900, and the Table Dekkers rooms. The results of this research will become apparent in new displays over the next few years.