The Irchester Field School is a collaborative community research project that is central to a wide-ranging partnership between the University of Leicester and North Northants Council, based at the Chester House Estate (https://chesterhouseestate.org/). It encompasses research, learning, community engagement, wellbeing and enterprise. The University of Leicester team is coordinated through the University of Leicester Heritage Hub (https://le.ac.uk/research/natural-heritage/heritage-hub).

The Chester House Estate is a unique free to enter 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 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 excavations

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 in partnership with volunteers and staff from the Chester House Estate and the ARC.

Archaeological survey and excavations are revealing houses, workshops and cemeteries, allowing us to better understand the lives of the town’s inhabitants. The Irchester Field School is a long-term collaborative project that supports local community and school involvement in archaeological research. The collaboration is enhancing our understanding of this archaeologically rich landscape, and is helping to make archaeological research and archives accessible and engaging.

Archaeological experience

We are offering a limited number of places to University of Leicester students / alumni who are not taking a fieldwork module but would like to join us to gain experience. The cost for us to offer this experience is £250/week (NOT including accommodation). However, we are offering a Pay What You Can pricing model which helps us remove barriers and make archaeology accessible to all. You can pay a minimum of £100/week, but if you can pay the full (£250) recommended price or more (up to a maximum of £500/week) it helps us to continue our work and our ability to offer more Pay What You Can experiences for those who use it.

Please make sure that your chosen week/s have been approved via email before booking (please contact [email protected]).

Depending on numbers we may be able to offer shorter experiences (@ £50/day) (please contact [email protected]).

Week 1 Monday 17 June – Friday 21 June 

Week 2 Monday 24 June – Friday 28 June 

Deadline for bookings Friday 10 May

What is included?

On-site tuition, including excavation and on-site recording, finds processing and archiving. 

All equipment, learning materials and a certificate of completion from the University of Leicester.

Instruction from a team of enthusiastic and supportive staff from the University of Leicester School of Archaeology and Ancient History and University of Leicester Archaeological Services.

Opportunities to work alongside staff and volunteers from the Chester House Estate and Archaeological Resource Centre, volunteers and University of Leicester students at a nationally significant site.

What is not included

International travel to and from the UK

Academic credits from the University of Leicester

Travel within the UK

Travel or medical insurance

Visa costs, if applicable

Meals or refreshments between meals (food/drink is available to purchase at the Chester House Estate)

Personal spending money

Accommodation (a fully catered camping option at £50/day is offered by our partners at the Chester House Estate and must be booked separately. Please email [email protected] for further information and the booking link).

Health and safety

You are required to hold medical insurance (if you are from outside the UK)

You may be asked to work outside in varied weather conditions

You must read the risk assessment and follow all directions for site safety and protocols for your own safety and for the safety of others around you

You are required to bring your own suitable clothing and footwear.

Both the University of Leicester and the Chester House Estate hold public liability insurance.

You will receive further information about the site and the programme at least one month before the start of the Field School.

If you have specific requirements, queries or concerns please contact us at: [email protected]

Dates

The excavation will run from Monday 17 June – Friday 28 June 2024.

Payment Terms
Payment is accepted by credit card by clicking on 'book now.'

Please note that your booking will not be confirmed until we are in receipt of this information and payment has been made.

Refund and Cancellation policy
Requests for refunds will be considered in the following circumstances:

• The participant or immediate family are seriously ill (medical evidence will be required).
• The participant is unable to obtain a visa (documentary evidence of the rejection letter will be required).

Please note that after 1 June refunds will not be considered due to costs incurred.