VAULTS beneath Wisbech Castle are to be excavated to discover evidence of the lost Bishop s Palace. Lottery funding has been made available for the excavations and permission to carry out the works is now being sought from Fenland District Council.

VAULTS beneath Wisbech Castle are to be excavated to discover evidence of the 'lost' Bishop's Palace.

Lottery funding has been made available for the excavations and permission to carry out the works is now being sought from Fenland District Council.

Taleyna Fletcher, project officer from Oxford Archaeology, says the aim is to look for any surviving archaeological evidence of the palace, earlier original Norman castle or any other buildings or remains associated with the site.

"The investigations will comprise test pits in the grounds and we propose within the vaults," she said.

"We understand that elements of the tunnels may date back to the 15th Century and part of the Bishops Palace, and by investigating the floor of the vaults we hope to find evidence of building material, datable pottery or even earlier floor surfaces."

By locating these remains, she says, they will be better enabled to preserve the remains in their current setting.

Ms Fletcher said two or three test pits will be excavated and any floor surfaces disturbed will be fully reinstated.

A full photographic record will also be made.

The Bishops Palace was built by Bishop Morton of Ely in 1478.