In spring 2016 a major project in conjunction with Oxford Archaeology was undertaken to drain away the moat waters within the bath house, dredge several feet of silt from the floor and fully reveal the architecture of the great chamber for the first time in 750 years.
A dam was created across the inlet from the moat to allow water and silt to be pumped out and enable a scaffold to be built on a firm foundation. The dredging team worked very hard in difficult conditions to clear the chamber and they, with Curator Annie Kemkaran-Smith, pulled a significant amount of finds from the mud, including a Victorian fishing tackle box, an anchor, coins and medallions, but sadly no medieval artefacts.
