Irchester Field School
The Irchester Field School is a joint partnership between The Chester House Estate (CHE) and the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC) and University of Leicester's School of Ancient History and Archaeology.
Every June and July, archaeologists from the University of Leicester's School of Ancient History and Archaeology excavate within the suburbs of the Roman town, in partnership with volunteers and staff from The Chester House Estate (CHE)and the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC).
This programme is a unique opportunity for your pupils to engage with highly experienced archaeological researchers and CHE staff and volunteers passionate about making archaeological research accessible, providing an exceptional range and depth of knowledge and expertise.
Together we are working to provide life-enhancing opportunities focused on archaeology and heritage for young people and the wider community.
Our partnership places research, learning and community engagement at its core. Past and present surveys and excavation has focused not only the core of the walled town with its houses, workshops and temples, but its suburbs and cemeteries, allowing us to better understand the lives of its inhabitants. This research is revealing the hidden histories of communities living along this stretch of the Nene Valley, with a focus on the Late Iron Age and Roman periods.
The 2026 programme highlights:
The Irchester Field School is an award-winning programme that is a unique blend of local knowledge and experience and world-leading academic and professional expertise. Our partnership with the University of Leicester and our collaborative programmes have received national recognition (Council for British Archaeology Finalist 2023, 2025 & Award Winner for Learning & Skills 2024; Municipal Journal Award for Innovation in Public Private Partnership 2025).
Our 2026 Irchester Field School Learning Programme includes the following exciting hand-on workshops
What was everyday life like in Roman Irchester?: Learn how the study of human bones (osteology) enables archaeologists to understand all aspects of human health, from diet, lifestyle, the impact and spread of diseases and the treatment of the dead. You will examine and record real (or replica if required) skeletons from the site of Roman Irchester. These workshops have been designed with world-leading researchers at the University of Leicester (recent recipients of the Times Higher Education Award Research Project of the Year Award).
Learn archaeological recording techniques: Try your hand at archaeological techniques. Participate in the recording of archaeological features on the excavation site, learning about the importance of accurate documentation for piecing together the stories of everyday life under Roman rule.
Meet our archaeologists: Watch archaeologists in action, excavating in the suburbs of the small Roman town of Irchester. Explore the excavation site and learn about the equipment and cutting-edge techniques used by archaeologists.
Explore our Archives: What happens to archaeological finds? Where and why do we keep them? Discover the role of an archaeological archivist and learn about the process of preserving and organising archaeological records. Your students will have a chance to handle and catalogue artefacts in our state-of-the-art Archaeological Resource Centre.
Try your hand at microscopic investigation in our lab: What can we learn from the things that we find? Investigate and analyse finds discovered from the excavations of Roman Irchester in our laboratory. Students will develop skills to allow them to investigate the lives of the people who lived there based on the evidence found.
Handle and learn how to clean real archaeological finds: Help us process the things that we find. Your students will be given an artefact found during excavations of the site of Roman Irchester. They will be guided through the finds washing process to clean their artefact ready for examination.
Optional: Swap your finds washing for an "Ask the Archaeologist" Careers Talk
Feedback from our Irchester Field School programme
