The Siege of Newark

During the English Civil War, Newark was known as the 'Key to the North' because of its great strategic importance. The River Trent, and two vital communication routes - the Great North Road and the Fosse Way - all met here. Newark had provided staunch support for King Charles I and the royalists, but Parliament was determined to take it. After two failed sieges, they were back in 1645 for a third go. This time they meant business. The team starts their dig at Shelford, the site of an early battle in the siege. They discover two medieval buildings - one which was standing at the time of the battle and the other they believe was a church buried beneath the defensive rampart.