Ep 13. Jailhouse Rocks, Appleby, Cumbria

In Time Team season 10 episode 13 titled "Jailhouse Rocks, Appleby, Cumbria," the team travels to the town of Appleby in Cumbria to investigate the remains of a 17th century jailhouse. The site was discovered during the construction of a new police station, and the team gets to work excavating the area to uncover the history of this intriguing artifact.

The team is faced with several challenges right from the start. The site is located in the middle of a busy street, so they have to work quickly to avoid disrupting traffic. Additionally, the jailhouse was built on top of an even older building, making it difficult to discern which artifacts are associated with the jailhouse and which are from the earlier structure.

Despite these obstacles, the team is able to use a combination of traditional excavation methods and cutting-edge technology to uncover a wealth of information about the jailhouse and the people who lived and worked there. They discover evidence of a fire that destroyed much of the original structure, as well as personal items belonging to the inmates, such as shoes and clay pipes.

As they dig deeper, the team begins to piece together a picture of what life was like for the inmates of this 17th century jailhouse. They learn that the prisoners were forced to perform hard labor, such as breaking rocks, in order to pay off their debt to society. They also discover evidence of overcrowding, with multiple people crammed into cells meant for only one or two individuals.

One of the most interesting discoveries comes in the form of graffiti left behind by the inmates themselves. The team uncovers intricate drawings and inscriptions etched into the walls of the jailhouse, offering a glimpse into the minds of these prisoners from centuries past.

Throughout the episode, the team works tirelessly to extract every last piece of information from the jailhouse site. They use drones to capture aerial footage of the excavation, perform carbon dating on various artifacts to determine their age, and consult with experts in order to better understand the historical context of the jailhouse.

Overall, "Jailhouse Rocks, Appleby, Cumbria" is a fascinating look at the history of crime and punishment in England. Through their meticulous excavation and analysis, the Time Team is able to shed light on a little-known piece of the past and bring it to life for modern viewers.