A HIGH-TECH archaeological survey of Huddersfield’s greatest landmark has failed to reveal secrets of its distant past.

But leaders of the ambitious Castle Hill Project are confident they will secure the £850,000 Lottery cash needed for further excavations of the site and a raft of other work there.

It had been hoped a geophysical survey of the site – once an Iron Age hill fort – would shed more light on life on Castle Hill more than 2,500 years ago.

But because of more recent human activity on the site the survey – commissioned by Kirklees Council and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund – revealed little more than former field boundaries, footpaths and trenches dug by Castle Hill archaeologist W J Varley between 1939 and 1973.

The results of the survey, carried out by West Yorkshire Archaeological Services over the summer, were unveiled in a presentation to 80 archaeology enthusiasts at Huddersfield Town Hall.

But Kirklees countryside manager Neil Windett, who is leading the project, says he is confident the programme will win the Lottery money.

Mr Windett said: “We’ve got through the most difficult phase of this application.

“There’s a lot of interest there. Neil Redfern (leader of the planning department at English Heritage) thinks it’s a really interesting site.”

Mr Windett added: “Geophysical surveys have limitations, especially if you have lots of material on top. Castle Hill has been disturbed at lot over the years.

“It will be very interesting to have another look at the trenches.

“The Castle Hill fort is from the early Iron Age and it’s very unusual to have a hill fort in the north of England.”

The Castle Hill Project includes the restoration of Victoria Tower, the installation of toilets in the tower and the improvement of the landscape around the ancient well on the hill.

The programme also includes several community education projects covering the history of Castle Hill and the improvement of the landscape surrounding it.

The result of the Castle Hill Project bid is expected to be announced in September.

If successful, the majority of work will take place the following year.

Mr Windett said: “It’s probably the most ambitious project Castle Hill has had.

“If we get the funding it will last for three years and it will be a great celebration for Castle Hill.”

The history of human activity on Castle Hill goes back over 4,000 years.

The site was developed as an iron age hill fort, surrounded by defensive ditches and ramparts.

Current research suggests the Iron Age site was not settled all year round but was maybe used for religious occasions or in times of conflict.

In the Middle Ages there was a castle on the hill, of which the well remains.

The present tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee of 1897.