Trent & Peak Archaeology / The University of Nottingham

North-Western Passage  2 Castle Grove, cave CD3 Description - CD3, North-Western Passage, 2 Castle Grove Tunnel cave leading from garden of No 2 Castle Grove towards the Castle middle bailey. Probable postern access to the medieval Castle from the hunting park. 001 Irregular shaped space below hatch. Brick building foundations and steel supports visible to west and south, with waste pipes also visible, possibly Victorian. Face of sandstone (possibly medieval) to the east with hole (c. 1m x 0.6m) allowing access to the tunnel. Considerable amount of fill and debris under foot including brick, rubble and broken waste pipe. 002a is the first part of the tunnel. Evidence of whitewashing on the sandstone. Horizontal line of tool marks along the centre line of the ceiling heading east. Significant amount of root action. Some small areas of collapse. Large amount of fill underfoot making it difficult to stand up.  002b follows on to the east from 002a. Two walls consisting of coursed rubble. Very dirty/loose, not mortared, not investigated. General fill includes animal bone/metal/barbed wire, appears to be mostly modern.  002c eastern portion of passage, beyond rubble fill. 9 rock cut steps visible and tunnel open to full height. Tunnel appears to open out to north and south at eastern end where there is a line of coursed ashlar stone walling above arch height. Mixed rubble beyond this point including very large stone rubble blocks.