Salford University's Centre for Applied Archaeology has excavated the historically rich site working with school children and adult volunteers

© Dr Michael Nevell

© Dr Michael Nevell

© Public Domain

A team from Salford University working alongside volunteers have finished their first flagship dig of the year as part of the Dig Greater Manchester project.Investigating the medieval manor, much of which still remains a mystery, in addition to the city’s industrial heritage, the Radcliffe Tower dig at Close Park, Bury began on April 13 and uncovered a late medieval wing to the timber hall and made a detailed 3D study of the remains of the tower.Finds included glass goblets and fine slipware dinner plates from the 16th century.Radcliffe was formerly a three storey pele tower, one of only a handful of such towers in Lancashire, and was originally part of a fortified medieval manor.Sitting on the northern bank of the River Irwell, the house, dating from around 1403, was rebuilt by lord of the manor James de Radcliffe, after he was given a licence to fortify the site, permitting him to construct two pele towers, in addition to adding crenellations and battlements.It is uncertain if the second tower was ever built.The manor house and west wing were demolished in the early 1830s with some of the materials used in the building of neighbouring cottages to house workers at a nearby bleachers.Today, Radcliffe tower and nearby St Mary's church are only visible remains of the medieval manor complex, which was mentioned in the Doomsday Book.There are plans to launch a virtual and actual heritage trail covering the tower later this the year.One of the largest community archaeology projects in the UK, the five-year Dig Greater Manchester project aims to provide places for than 6000 school children and more than 1000 adult volunteers investigating eleven sites in Greater Manchester, Blackburn and Darwen.“It was definitely worth us coming back to Radcliffe, and the truth is that there's still a lot more to be found for whoever is able to come back again one day” says Vicky Nash, the dig leader.Find out more on the Dig Greater Manchester blog More from Culture24'ssection: