Archaeological Digs
Here at The Chester House Estate we are rich with history and archaeology and we will be running opportunities for the community to get hands on with history!
The Chester House Estate is a unique heritage site. There is evidence for 10,000 years of human activity in the landscape, from flint scatters dating the Mesolithic (c. 10,000 to 4,000 BC) to a complex of traditional farm buildings dating back to the 17th century.
Within the Estate lies one of the best preserved walled Roman small towns in Britain, known as Irchester. At present, much of this heritage is buried; the challenge is to bring it to life and tell its stories.
The ARC
The Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC) is a state-of-the-art facility located within the Chester House Estate, which is the new archaeological archive repository for the whole of Northants.
The ARC will ultimately hold more than 20,000 boxes of archaeological finds from across Northamptonshire. This stretch of the Nene Valley is one of the richest parts of the country for archaeological investigation and archives.
The Irchester Field School
In June and July, the University of Leicester’s School of Archaeology and Ancient History (SAAH) and University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) conduct archaeological excavations within the suburbs of the small Roman town. The Irchester Field School is in partnership with volunteers and staff from the Chester House Estate and the ARC.
How can I get involved?
From volunteers, to students to expert archaeologists - enquire now about getting involved with our archaeological digs for 2025 below.
Follow along our excavations, as our team uncovers 10,000 years of history. Throughout the two week dig, we release updates with the latest finds, updates and interviews with real archaeologists. Follow our Instagram below for more updates!
