If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Archaeological investigations in 2002 and 2005 on each side of Castle Street recorded two parts of a substantial ditch which had previously been noted between Holly Street and Kelvin Close in 1963. This is likely to have been the ditch surrounding the adulterine motte and bailey castle known to have been built in Luton by Robert de Waudari in 1139 but demolished in 1154.

Full Description

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Record Cards, OS: TL 02 SE 23 (Unpublished document). SBD10879.

TL 0906 2082. Castle (site of). 12th century.
Holly Lodge, Castle Street, Luton stands on a mound which may be the site of a castle built in 1139 or soon afterwards. (M.S. Gordon 02/06/1961: F. Davis, History of Luton , 1855, pp. 49, 144; W. Austin, History of Luton Vol. 1, 1928, p.74)
The suggested site is now occupied by a modern bus depot (FDC 12/11/1975)

<2> F W Kuhlicke, Bedford Museum, Annotated OS 6" map (Map). SBD12671.

"Site of Norman castle (Holly Lodge)" arrowed at TL 0905 2082

<3> Luton Museum, Luton Museum Document, 1972 (Unpublished document). SBD10952.

TL 091 208. Site of timber castle, Castle Street (Norman). (J.F. Dyer, etc.)
[Map shows area centred at TL 0912 2082].

<4> Thames Valley Archaeological Services, 2002, Excavation at Castle Street, Luton: Robert de Waudari's Castle?, Sarah Coles (Archaeological Report). SBD11889.

A substantial V-shaped defensive ditch, 6m wide and 3m deep, and of medieval date was found along with a medieval pit. Some Bronze Age pottery and prehistoric flintwork was also recovered . A gully produced a single sherd of Roman pottery.

<5> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, South Midlands Archaeology, Volume 33, Vol. 33, 2003, pp. 17-20 (Serial). SBD14146.

As for reference 4.

<6> Albion Archaeology, 2005, Land at Castle Street/Holly Street, Luton: Archaeological Field Evaluation, 2005/9, January 2005 (Archaeological Report). SBD11890.

A possible boundary ditch was revealed containing very little occupational debris which suggests it represents rural field demarcation.

<7> The Bedfordshire Archaeological Council, 2004, Bedfordshire Archaeology, Volume 25, Vol.25, 2004, pp. 201-7 (Excavation at Castle Street, Luton: The site of Robert de Waudari's Castle) (Article in serial). SBD14109.

A small excavation at the former Luton Bus Depot produced evidence of a ditch of defensive proportions, 6m wide and 3m deep, with several layers visible in the stratigraphy mostly slumping in from the northeast so possibly derived from a mound or rampart. It is likely to be a part of Robert de Waudari's castle built in 1139 and pulled down in 1154.

<8> Bedfordshire County Council, 1970 - 2000s, HER Photograph Archive, P1010042 and P1010049, 2002, by Lesley Ann Mather (Beds. C. C. Archaeological Officer), site visit (Photograph). SBD10506.

Two photographs of substantial ditch section as excavated by Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd. in the summer and autumn of 2002.

<9> The Bedfordshire Archaeological Council, 2010, Bedfordshire Archaeology, Volume 26, Vol. 26, 2010, pp. 387-404 (Article in serial). SBD14110.

Excavations east of Castle Street and south of Holly Street between 2004 and 2005 revealed the south eastern corner of the bailey ditch over a length of c.48 metres. Where best preserved it was 4.5m wide and 2.3m deep, the base varying from V- shaped to slightly rounded. Combined with the 2002 work the precise location of almost 80m of the castle ditch has been established and its curvature has made possible a new suggestion for the size and shape of the castle.

<10> Archaeological Services & Consultancy Ltd, 2008, Watching brief: 63-65 Castle Street, Luton (Archaeological Report). SBD11895.

No significant archaeological finds or features were observed during a watching brief at 63-5 Castle Street between March 2007 and February 2008.

<11> Council for British Archaeology, 2009, South Midlands Archaeology, Volume 39, Vol. 39, 2009, p11 (Serial). SBD14152.

Details as per ref (10)

<12> NMR/AMIE, HE NRHE Monument Inventory, 359711 (Index). SBD12367.

Holly Lodge, Castle Street, Luton (TL 09062082) stands on a mound which may be the site of a castle built in 1139 or soon afterwards.

<13> Thames Valley Archaeological Services, 2002, Former Luton Bus Depot, Castle Street, Luton; An Archaeological Evaluation (Archaeological Report). SBD13336.

Two ditches were located traversing Trench 12 east to west. Ditch 1 appears to have been a re-cut of an earlier ditch. One piece of medieval pottery was recovered from ditch 1 along with two struck flints. Two small sherds of prehistoric (possibly Bronze Age) pottery were recovered from ditch 2.
A gully was also located, aligned north-south A single sherd of possibly Roman pottery was found in its fill. There was no direct relationship between the gully and the two ditches, but the gully terminated just short of the ditch line, suggesting it was cut while the ditch was visible.

Trenches 15 and 16 were dug to establish the surviving extent of the features located in Trench 12. Both trenches exposed ditches 1 and 2 and revealed their western extent, with extensive modern truncation further into the site.

The features revealed do not automatically invite interpretation as related to Robert de Waudari's castle, in that they are not obviously of defensive proportions (unless considerably truncated) nor are they sufficiently distinctive to be considered as representing castle architecture. It is possible that they may relate to ancillary structures surrounding or within a castle, though it is equally possible that they represent activity completely unrelated to such a structure.

<14> Luton Museum, Accession Register, 2002/313; 2005/48; 2007/127; 2008/25 (Unpublished document). SBD10775.

2002/313 - Document and excavated finds from Bus Depot site, Castle Street, Luton. Excavated by Thames Valley Archaeological Service. Medieval.
2005/48 - Medieval Castle Site, Castle Street.
2007/127 - Watching Brief at 63-65 Castle Street, Luton. Site code 838/CAS. TL 091 208. Victorian and 20th century material. [EBD 98].
2008/25 - Material from excavation at the former Luton Bus depot, Castle Street, Luton. Site Code: CSL02/73. Grid Reference: TL090 207. Material expected is medieval.

Protected Status:

• Archaeological Notification Area (AI) HER186: SITE OF CASTLE, Castle Street/Holly Street

Monument Type(s):

• DITCH (Unknown date)
• PIT (Unknown date)
• GULLY (Roman/Romano-British - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• BOUNDARY DITCH? (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
• DITCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• PIT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• QUARRY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• QUARRY (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• CASTLE (12th Century - 1139 AD to 1154 AD)
• POST HOLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• POST HOLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)
• STRUCTURE? (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

• FBD6226 - ANIMAL REMAINS (Unknown date)
• FBD12389 - NON MARINE MOLLUSCA REMAINS (Unknown date)
• FBD12388 - PLANT MACRO REMAINS (Unknown date)
• FBD6224 - FLAKE (Prehistoric - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
• FBD12046 - SCRAPER (TOOL) (Early Prehistoric - 500000 BC to 4001 BC)
• FBD6225 - SCRAPER (TOOL) (Prehistoric - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
• FBD6222 - SHERD (Prehistoric - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
• FBD17979 - FLAKE (Early Mesolithic to Late Bronze Age - 10000 BC to 701 BC)
• FBD12394 - WORKED OBJECT (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)
• FBD17976 - SHERD (Bronze Age - 2350 BC? to 701 BC?)
• FBD12392 - SHERD (Late Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• FBD12047 - SHERD (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• FBD17977 - SHERD (Roman/Romano-British - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FBD6223 - SHERD (Roman/Romano-British - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FBD12393 - RIM SHERD (2nd Century - 100 AD to 199 AD)
• FBD6227 - HORSESHOE? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FBD6221 - SHERD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FBD17978 - SHERD (12th Century to 13th Century - 1100 AD? to 1299 AD?)
• FBD12390 - TILE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• FBD12391 - SHERD (17th Century to 18th Century - 1600 AD to 1799 AD)

Associated Events

• EBD186 - Excavation at Castle Street, Luton: Robert de Waudari's Castle? (Ref: 02/73b)
• EBD98 - Watching brief: 63-65 Castle Street, Luton (Ref: 887)
• EBD984 - Land at Castle Street/Holly Street, Luton: Archaeological Field Evaluation (Ref: 2005/9)
• EBD1065 - The remains of Robert de Waudari's adulterine castle, Castle Street, Luton
• EBD2284 - Former Luton Bus Depot, Castle Street, Luton; An Archaeological Evaluation (Ref: 02/73)

Sources and Further Reading

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.