An archaeological investigation is currently unearthing the hidden history of the Norman Conquest of Cumbria.

This endeavour by historians and archaeologists from across the North West targets the medieval remnants at Lowther Castle and Gardens, near Penrith.

Although the site stands out for its 19th-century ruins, its medieval history has lacked attention until now.

The investigation will be featured on BBC 2's Digging for Britain on January 2 at 8pm.

The potentialy nationally significant site is where the campaign of conquest led by King William Rufus in 1092 took place.

The survival of rare documentary evidence of the castle and medieval village life narrates the tale of the site.

Since 2023, funded by the Castle Studies Trust, an archaeological dig, coupled with a documentary excavation, has been in progress.

The core team includes Lancaster University, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Allen Archaeology and Lowther Castle and Gardens.

Together, they aim at revealing this crucial chapter of Britain's past, previously underappreciated.

Cumbria evaded the Norman invasion of 1066 and remained an independent kingdom, distinct from the Anglo-Saxon jurisdiction of the south, for another generation after the conquest.

It was not until 1092 that King William Rufus led his army north, annexed Cumbria to the English crown, and introduced settlers to colonise the area.

The Norman earthwork castle and village at Lowther possibly hold the keys to this second generation of Norman Conquest.

In the summer of 2023, the team commenced the excavation of the site, bringing to light the castle's construction and its association with the village.

The revelations will now be broadcast on Digging for Britain, BBC2’s pre-eminent series on current archaeology, hosted by Professor Alice Roberts.

The programme will showcase a tour of the excavation site by Dr Jim Morris and archaeology students from UCLan, alongside medieval documentary evidence of the castle and village, presented by Dr Sophie Ambler, of Lancaster University.

Among the Lowther family archive are 13th-century deeds generated by the villagers, nestled by the medieval castle.

These Latin parchment documents, revealing a rarely mentioned derelict castle, are treasured pieces of history.

By assembling Lowther's medieval past through documents and archaeology, the investigation seeks to fill a critical gap in Britain’s historical narrative: the moment when Cumbria’s independence succumbed and the Norman Conquest culminated in 1092, not 1066.