ARCHAEOLOGISTS have been digging deep at Castle Howard - and they are hoping a newly-discovered 14th century wall may be the remains of a real castle.

Stuart Noon, resident archaeologist at the stately home, believes his dig has uncovered the remains of what may have been part of buildings belonging to Henderskelfe Castle.

This year he hopes to prove it once and for all.

Henderskelfe was the village swept away in 1699 by the 3rd Earl of Carlisle in order to build Castle Howard.

Villagers were re-homed and many of their descendants still live and work on the estate today.

A map of the village dated 1694 shows a castle marked in the area close to the dig and trained archaeologists and eager volunteers will be working on the site this summer.

If the wall is part of the castle's buildings then the search will turn to revealing more of the 14th century castle and village itself.

Updated: 10:04 Friday, June 06, 2003