For Marine to Moor and Urban
Next Winter Lecture
3 November 2025 at 19:00
Dig the Castle: We Dug It!
An exploration of one town’s adventures in archaeology
Emily Wapshott, Southwest Archaeology
Winter Lecture Programme
2025 - 2026
A series of monthly lectures from October to April each year
Monthly visits to sites of archaeological interest
Workshops
This community project centred around the ‘lost’ Norman motte and bailey castle in Great Torrington, it’s west bailey having been converted into a car park in the later 1970s, its east bailey lying beneath the current bowling green. The talk will examine how sense of place and ‘place in time’, local pride and identity can all be improved and expanded upon. It will also explore the castle’s eventual ‘rediscovery’ and its new role in the town’s physical and cultural landscape, looking to provide lessons for the future in town planning and regeneration.
Emily has many years’ experience in the construction and planning industry as a commercial archaeologist & historic buildings specialist and is currently the Historic Buildings Lead for heritage consultancy Southwest Archaeology.