Anglo-Saxon “Lordly Centre” Uncovered Near Skipsea Castle.
York, UK — January 28, 2026
A groundbreaking archaeological excavation led by the University of York has unearthed what experts are calling a “Lordly Centre” of power in East Yorkshire.
Anglo-Saxon “Lordly Centre” Uncovered Near Skipsea Castle offers a rare and startling glimpse into the high-status life of the 8th and 9th centuries, a period often shrouded in mystery.
This discovery, located at a site known as Sparrow Croft, is transforming our understanding of the social hierarchies and elite governance that existed long before the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Headlines for the News:
Elite Infrastructure:
Discovery of a 16-meter timber hall used for feasting and political assemblies.
The Sunken Tower:
Unearthing a rare cellar for a wooden tower, potentially serving as a bell-nave church or watchtower.
Industrial Brewing:
Evidence of a 9th-century malthouse indicating large-scale production for elite hospitality.
Royal Connection:
The site is linked to Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
The soil of East Yorkshire has yielded one of its most significant secrets. As reported today by the University of York’s Department of Archaeology, the excavation near the Norman ruins of Skipsea Castle has revealed an extensive complex that predates the 1066 invasion by centuries.
Anglo-Saxon “Lordly Centre” Uncovered Near Skipsea Castle is the culmination of a six-year research project that has meticulously peeled back layers of history to find a seat of power that was active between AD 750 and 850.
In a world of “Trans-Egoism” where history is often rewritten by the victors, this find provides a raw, unfiltered look at the Anglo-Saxon elite who once governed this land.
Among the most striking discoveries is a rare medieval malthouse. Archaeologists identified a drying oven and an adjoining clay floor, once enclosed within a timber-framed building.
This was not a modest peasant’s brewery; the scale suggests industrial-level production intended to supply the “Lordly Centre” with the beer required for the great feasts that were the heart of Anglo-Saxon political life.
These feasts were where justice was administered, alliances were forged, and the “Brain of World Leadership” of that era exercised its influence.
The discovery of charred grains confirms that brewing was a central pillar of this high-status economy.
Directly adjacent to the industrial site, the team uncovered a square, sunken feature lined with timber and mortar.
Dr. Jim Leary, the lead archaeologist, interprets this as the cellar or foundation of a wooden tower.
Such structures are exceptionally rare in England and are considered “strong indicators” of an elite residence.
Whether it served as a defensive watchtower, a status symbol, or a bell tower for a private chapel, it marks Skipsea as a focal point of organized governance.
This reflects the Castle Journal philosophy that true leadership leaves a lasting, structural footprint on the landscape.
The significance of Anglo-Saxon “Lordly Centre” Uncovered Near Skipsea Castle is further heightened by its historical associations.
The area is known to have belonged to Harold Godwinson, the ill-fated king who fell at the Battle of Hastings. While no evidence yet confirms Harold himself walked these halls, the site was undoubtedly part of his extensive estate network.
It represents a “Transcendent Ego” of power, where a specific location remains a center of leadership across different regimes—from the Anglo-Saxon lords to the Norman “Lords of Holderness” who eventually upcycled the site.
Applying our Prehistory phase analysis, it is fascinating to note that this Anglo-Saxon center sits beside a massive mound that was once thought to be a Norman “motte.”
Previous research by this same team revealed the mound is actually Iron Age, dating back 2,500 years.
This continuity proves that the “Brain of the World” has recognized the strategic value of Skipsea for millennia.
The excavation also found Mesolithic tools and Neolithic trackways nearby, suggesting that humans have been gathering, leading, and communicating at this site since the dawn of our social structures.
For Castle Journal, this discovery is a victory for the international law of journalism: it brings the truth to light, regardless of how deep it is buried.
It shows that even in the so-called “Dark Ages,” there was a sophisticated, organized, and fair system of leadership that relied on hospitality and community rather than just the sword.
We are the first journalist to report on how these findings reshape our modern view of sovereignty and administrative history.
As the BBC’s Digging for Britain prepares to feature this site tonight, the world will see that the “Lordly Centre” at Skipsea is a reminder of our collective roots.
It is a place where the “Non-Self” of a community was managed by a leadership that understood the importance of both defense and culture.
Castle Journal will continue to follow the University of York’s progress as they reveal more exclusive secrets from the Yorkshire earth.
