Ep 5. Shorncliffe Redoubt, Sandgate, Kent

Time Team Season 14 Episode 5 takes the team to Shorncliffe Redoubt in Sandgate, Kent. The site is an old military fortification that has remained largely untouched for over a century. The team sets out to uncover what remains of the fortification and learn more about its historical significance.

The episode begins with the team meeting with local experts and historians to learn more about the history of the site. They are particularly interested in the role that the Shorncliffe Redoubt played in the defense of England and the nearby port of Folkestone during the Napoleonic Wars. They are also hoping to uncover any secrets about the fortification that have been lost to time.

To begin their investigation, the team starts with a survey of the site using ground-penetrating radar and other high-tech equipment. This allows them to map out the layout of the fortification and identify any areas of interest that they might want to excavate further.

One area that catches the team's attention is a set of underground tunnels that are believed to have been used for storing ammunition and supplies. The team sets out to explore these tunnels and see if they can find any evidence of their use during the Napoleonic Wars.

As they begin excavating the tunnels, the team uncovers a number of interesting artifacts and features. They find evidence of a ventilation system, which is a particularly impressive feat of engineering given that the tunnels were built over 200 years ago. They also find evidence of a makeshift hospital that was set up in the tunnels during the First World War.

As the team continues to explore the site, they also uncover evidence of a parade ground and other features that would have been essential to the fortification's functioning.

Throughout the episode, the team faces a number of challenges - from dealing with the wet conditions in the underground tunnels to navigating the complex history of the site. But with the help of local experts and their own experience in archaeology and excavation, they are able to uncover a wealth of information about the Shorncliffe Redoubt and its significance to England's military history.

By the end of the episode, the team has learned a great deal about the site and its history, and they leave with a newfound appreciation for the military engineers who built and maintained such fortifications over the centuries. Their work continues to be essential to our understanding of the past and the ways in which our society has been shaped by conflict and military strategy.