Essex Festival of Archaeology and Heritage 2025

We had a great time at the Essex Festival of Archaeology last week! Thanks to Place Services for putting together such a well-organised and welcoming event. It was great to be part of something that clearly struck a chord with so many people. Over 1,100 visitors came through the doors, the talks were fully booked…

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More from the Tower of London

Want to see more from the Tower of London excavation? Historic Royal Palaces have shared a fascinating two-part blog by Curator Alfred Hawkins, offering more detail on the discoveries made outside the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, including insights from the 2019 trial work and the recent excavation. Part 1: Two Skeletons Found at the…

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Tower of London Excavation Reveals Medieval Burials and Lost Chapels

Pre-Construct Archaeology has been working with the independent charity Historic Royal Palaces on the most significant excavation at the Tower of London in a generation. The project, focused around the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, has uncovered the remains of up to 50 individuals, far more than initially anticipated, along with rare grave…

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Uncovering Saxon Grantchester: PCA Shares Preliminary Findings

PCA’s Senior Project Officer, Rita Pedro, and Project Manager, Judy Mlynarska, delivered a talk to Grantchester’s After 8s group on 10 July 2025, sharing preliminary findings from the archaeological excavation at 19 High Street, Grantchester. The excavation uncovered substantial evidence of Saxon occupation, including several structures or ‘halls’ constructed using a variety of techniques: post-built,…

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PCA at the Essex Festival of Archaeology 2025

We’re pleased to be contributing to this year’s Essex Festival of Archaeology, where our team will be sharing results from recent excavations at Great Chesterford, a site that’s proving to be one of the most illuminating early Saxon settlements we’ve investigated. When: Thursday 24 July 10am-5pm Where: Cressing Temple Barns, Witham Rd, Cressing, Braintree CM77…

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Bringing the Past to Life at Saxon Fields, Norfolk

Recent archaeological work by PCA at Saxon Fields in Woodton, Norfolk, uncovered the remains of a Bronze Age ring ditch, evidence of a funerary monument long since ploughed away at ground level. The excavation was carried out in advance of a new housing development by Crocus Homes, who invited pupils from nearby Woodton Primary School…

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Excavations and Object Handling at St Helen’s School

Back in May, field archaeologists Luke Hall and Anna Robson from PCA Durham had the pleasure of visiting St Helen’s Primary School in Hartlepool to talk about the excavations taking place on their school field ahead of construction of a new school building. Luke and Anna led a whole-school assembly and delivered an in-depth object-handling…

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Assessing Hyde Abbey Stonework

PCA recently carried out an assessment of stone from a collapsed section of wall in Hyde, Winchester, working alongside specialist Dr Kevin Hayward and local heritage group Hyde900. The wall, which probably dates to the late 1540s, includes reused masonry from Hyde Abbey, demolished following the Reformation. Among the fallen material were carved fragments and…

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Becket’s Chapel in South Norfolk Wins 2025 AABC Conservation Award

We’re delighted that Becket’s Chapel in South Norfolk has been recognised with a 2025 AABC Conservation Award as part of the Civic Trust Awards. Established in 2014, these awards honour projects that set the standard for historic building conservation, making a lasting impact on the built environment. The work at Becket’s Chapel shows how sensitive…

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