Trent & Peak Archaeology / The University of Nottingham

King David’s Dungeon  Castle Rock cave CD5 Description - CD5, King David’s Dungeon, Castle Rock Series of separate and now interconnecting chambers. Includes entrance to Western Passage (CD2) off 003. 001 25 stone flagged steps rectangular spiral down to landing 002. Brick lined.  002 flat stone-lined 'landing' at bottom of 001, with entrances south to 003 Wine Cellar and north  to steps 004.  Brick lined on all sides, window above stone shelf to west overlooking Park estate.  003 Wine Cellar. Rectangular cave approximately 6x10m. Sandstone visible on south side to waist  height coursed stone wall on north side in places, shallow brick vault and brickwork everywhere  else.  Bricks 2 3/8”h - 2 1/4”h.  Sloping 3”h brick 'thrall' on east side, 1.5m deep. 2 arches  (deeper than 'thrall') in east wall, both bricked up.  Floor rough sandstone / fill, sloping steeply  up to east.   In the south-west corner (behind locked wooden gate) stone steps cutting down through eroded  tool mark free sandstone to Western Passage ・ CD2  004 20 stone steps down to landing and side passages 005. Well lit, handrails on both sides.  Brick  and stone sided on west side, stone only on east side. Brick vaulted.  005 landing between 004 and 006, with side passage to east.  Stone walled passage 2m long, brick  vaulted at c. 3m high, leads into 8 stone steps between brick skin (2 ¼ and 2 3/8”h brick) and  very rough stone vaulting.  Passage blocked after 7 steps with 3”h brick wall. To west stone  mullioned 'window', bricked up but grilled at top. Presumably ventilation, now blocked.  006 stone-flagged steps down to 007. 17 steps stone walled on both sides to small landing, then 5  stone steps angled into 007. Brick walled (2 ¼ ・ 2 3/8) on west side, heavily tool marked  sandstone on east side.  007 ‘Romylowe’s cave’ consists of a rectangular chamber, entirely rock-cut. Sandstone has  skinned and peeled in many places leaving smooth eroded stone.  Cave has several channels cut  into floor, presumably parts of privy pits. 007a, 0.55m long, 0.35m wide and 0.4m deep, purpose  unknown. 007b, 0.48m wide, 1.6m long and 0.40m deep, runs under the west wall and is vaulted  over with rough coursed stone. 007C (possibly a privy pit) open channel running west to east  across floor of entire cave. 0.4wx0.4d.  At the west end runs into broad alcove 2m high, 1.7m  wide and 1.3m deep. At rear of alcove opening leading upwards, filled with modern loose.  Presumably to privy.  Channel 007c runs east beneath 008 King David's Dungeon in culvert, couple  of metres then blocked from view.  Highly eroded thrall / bench in north east corner.  Two highly  eroded raised (0.1m) squares of sandstone in north-west corner, 0.7x0.7m. Separated from 008 by  brick arch 2 ¼ ・ 2 3/8”h brick.  008 King David's Dungeon.   Rock cut rectangular cave, 9x4m, 4m high.  Heavily tool marked and much graffiti.  The north  wall contains numerous notches, 100x100m, 50mm deep at 1,6m high.  The south wall contains 5  deep notches, 200x250mm, 200mm deep at 1.8m at west end of rock wall.  3M from west end is a  large cut in the sandstone from 1.2m high to ceiling, all the way to eastern end of cave, walled  up with rough coarse stone with later insertions of tall gothic arches (008a and 008b).  008a  (east) blocked with regular coursed stone partially collapsed revealing rock cut passage (008c)  leads back 4m to south and turns to east, considered unsafe so not examined.  008B open, arch  1m deep retaining rough coarse stone 1.3m deep excavated partially and bricked at south end  opening in brick shows coarse stone walling running north-west, south-east, medieval castle ditch  retaining wall?.  Rock cut opening to east 1.5m wide by 3m high, to steps 009.    009  Steps with landing leading to courtyard ditch level, rock cut and rock vaulted on lower flight of  14 stone flagged steps.  Then landing and turn to east and 14 stone flagged steps to courtyard  level (010.  Stone walled and vaulted above sandstone.  Hand rail and well lit, damp stone wall to  east.    010  Stone and brick room at west end of ditch courtyard, exit to plain air.