Time travelling with a radar and trowels are these two archaeologists at East Riddlesden Hall.

They are carrying out exploratory digs in the grounds of the 17th century manor house to uncover evidence of previous buildings.

Initial examinations earlier this week by National Trust regional archaeologist Mark Newman and volunteer Bill Barber found nothing. But investigations are likely to continue over the next few years as the site is surveyed in detail.

The two men spent several days in the hall's enclosed garden searching for evidence of original buildings under the current lawn. They were taking advantage of land being left bare following the removal of diseased robinia trees.

The men began with a resitivity survey - measuring depth using a radar and computer - then dug two one-metre trial pits to see what was underneath the ground.

They particularly hoped to find traces of floors on the site of the present building's Starkie Wing, which dated from 1692 and was knocked down in 1905. The wing's front wall can still be seen to the right of the main entrance.

Liz Houseman, assistant property manager at the hall, believes there could be the remains of early buildings on the land.

She says: "The Murgatroyd family remodelled the house in the 1640s. There's evidence buildings were here before that.

"There's never been an archaeological survey on this site. We're going to do a full survey of the property over the next few years."

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