‘Cannons and Castles’ (Orgueil, Jersey) | Series 18 Episode 8 | Time Team

Time Team Classics・2 minutes read

Time Team explores Montorgueil in Jersey, an ancient fortress crucial for British defense, uncovering hidden secrets and historical significance dating back to King John's reign. The team faces challenges excavating the castle, revealing defensive structures from various historical periods, showcasing advancements in weaponry technology from arrows to cannons and highlighting the site's rich history spanning from prehistoric times to the Tudor era.

Insights

  • Montorgueil in Jersey, the oldest castle, played a crucial role in British defense due to its strategic location overlooking Gory Harbour and the Channel Islands' approach from France, showcasing its historical significance in medieval power struggles.
  • The evolving defensive structures at Montal Guy Castle, dating from prehistoric times to the Tudor era, reflect advancements in weaponry technology, transitioning from arrows to cannons, with the castle's design adapting to these changes by increasing height to withstand cannon fire, emphasizing the strategic importance of the castle's location and defensive capabilities throughout history.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What is the historical significance of Montorgueil Castle?

    Montorgueil Castle played a crucial role in medieval power struggles, particularly during King John's reign. It strategically overlooked Gory Harbour and the Channel Islands' approach from France, making it a key defensive structure for British defense.

  • What challenges did the Time Team face during their excavation at Montorgueil Castle?

    The Time Team faced challenges due to the extreme terrain of Montorgueil Castle, with the GeoFizz team struggling to survey effectively. The castle's formidable defenses, including arrow slits, gun platforms, and battlements, posed obstacles to the excavation efforts.

  • What discoveries were made during the excavation at Montorgueil Castle?

    The excavation at Montorgueil Castle uncovered various historical structures dating back to different periods. Discoveries included a potential 13th-century wall section, a 13th-century corner tower beneath 16th-century defenses, defensive ditches, prehistoric pottery, and artifacts from different historical periods.

  • How did the defensive structures at Montorgueil Castle evolve over time?

    The defensive structures at Montorgueil Castle evolved over time to adapt to advancements in weapons technology. From arrows to muskets and cannons, the castle's defenses reflected changes in weaponry, with different structures dated to historical periods like the 15th century and Tudor era.

  • What was the strategic advantage of the height of Montorgueil Castle's defenses?

    The increasing height of Montorgueil Castle's defenses over time was influenced by the evolution of weaponry, from bows and arrows to cannons. The strategic advantage of height in defense against cannon attacks was crucial, showcasing the castle's adaptation to changing military technologies and its significance in British defense.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Montorgueil Castle: Uncovering Ancient British Defenses"

  • Time Team explores Montorgueil in Jersey, an ancient fortress with hidden secrets crucial to British defense.
  • Montorgueil, Jersey's oldest castle, strategically overlooks Gory Harbour and the Channel Islands' approach from France.
  • The castle's formidable defenses include arrow slits, gun platforms, and battlements, challenging the team's excavation efforts.
  • The castle's historical significance lies in its role during medieval power struggles, particularly with King John's reign.
  • The team aims to uncover mysteries surrounding the castle's 13th-century structures, focusing on the unexplored Castle Green area.
  • The team faces challenges due to the extreme terrain, with the GeoFizz team struggling to survey effectively.
  • Phil discovers a potential 13th-century wall section, hinting at the castle's early construction.
  • The team investigates the castle's history back to King John's reign, highlighting its strategic importance during medieval conflicts.
  • Stewart uncovers an original 13th-century corner tower beneath the 16th-century defenses, shedding light on the castle's early architecture.
  • Despite challenges in dating the structures, the team uncovers potential defensive ditches and structures, adding to the castle's historical narrative.

14:37

Castle excavation reveals historical ditches and walls.

  • Radar shows a meter-deep ditch with potential dateable material.
  • Trench three investigates a possible second ditch below the western wall.
  • Different ditches correspond to different castle wall dates.
  • Mick digs for ditches while Stuart explores higher walls.
  • Prehistoric pottery and artifacts suggest various historical periods.
  • Stewart locates a 13th-century wall and tower fragments.
  • A 3D laser scanner documents the castle for accurate measurements.
  • Trench three uncovers 15th-century pottery and potential structures.
  • Trench five reveals a solid wall on a granite spur.
  • An arrowhead bastion is found, unrelated to the 13th-century castle.

28:49

"Montal Guy Castle: Uncovering Centuries of History"

  • The earthwork at the site is believed to be a gun platform from the 16th century, possibly overlaid on an earlier ditch, potentially from the 13th century.
  • A section is planned to be excavated to gather more dating information from the site.
  • Analysis of the mortar with shells in it suggests a 13th-century origin, while mortar with crushed shells indicates a different period.
  • The archaeology at Montal Guy Castle is proving to be more complex than initially anticipated, with discoveries spanning from the 13th century to prehistoric times.
  • Various defenses, including a tower and gun platform, are being identified and dated to different historical periods, such as the 15th century and Tudor era.
  • The defensive structures at the castle reflect advancements in weapons technology, from arrows to muskets and cannons, with varying ranges and destructive capabilities.
  • A quarry pit from the 15th century is discovered, revealing the use of stone and sand mixture for construction during castle rebuilds.
  • Prehistoric artifacts, including Iron Age pottery and flint work, are found in one trench, pushing the site's history back to ancient times.
  • Excavations reveal a medieval wall dating back to the 13th century, potentially predating the main Tudor castle structure.
  • The thickness and design of the Tudor gun battery at the castle indicate its purpose to withstand cannon fire, preserving elements of the original castle beneath it.

43:24

Evolution of Montolgo Castle's Defenses

  • The site of Montolgo has a rich history dating back to prehistory, with a fortified keep built in the 13th century on a steep-sided granite hill, later enhanced with protective curtain walls, towers, and gun towers in the 15th century. Substantial changes in the late 16th century included the addition of a gun battery and a d-shaped tower, making the castle a formidable defensive structure against attacks, especially with the introduction of cannons.
  • The complexity of the castle's defenses, with its increasing height over time, was influenced by the evolution of weaponry from bows and arrows to muskets and eventually cannons. The strategic advantage of height in defense against cannon attacks is highlighted, showcasing the significance of the castle's location and design in adapting to changing military technologies.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.