A QUEST to pinpoint the original site of Lulworth Castle, financed by a £50,000 National Lottery grant, has started in earnest.

Students from the Purbeck School, Wareham, have been helping Dorset Castles Research Group (DCRG) members carry out a number of geophysical surveys in the grounds of the current Lulworth Castle.

However, it is the site of the original 12th century castle – recorded by a historian writing about the lives of English kings at the time – that represents the holy grail for the team.

DCRG chairman Roger Hills explained: “The exact nature of this castle is not known and by using geophysical surveys we are hoping that we can recover evidence of this castle and place it in the correct historical context.”

Sixteen students from the Wareham school have been assisting to collect data, using specialist equipment purchased with the Heritage Lottery Fund money.

They also worked to recover details of the 18th century ornamental gardens and demolished East Lulworth Village.

The Purbeck School history and humanities head, Mr Rainsley, said: “Participation in the resistivity survey at Lulworth Castle has been an invaluable opportunity for our gifted and talented students.

“All have enjoyed the challenge of learning how to accurately and consistently record data, whilst moving about handling technical equipment.

“A number of the students were nervous to start with but soon gained confidence and they were able to work at a breakneck pace – or so it seemed to us older and less fit folk.”

The students were split into four groups of four and conducted their surveys over a two-day period.

All the results are currently being analysed, and the results will be announced at a later date.

DCRG secretary Ray Baxter says the group will continue surveying the castle site throughout 2013, although activity will scale back over the peak summer months, picking up again in September.