Archived News - before July 2017

Come and work with us! We are looking for a Development Officer and a Project Assistant

Monday, 19 June, 2017

We are looking for two people to join our team - a Development Officer (part-time) and a Project Assistant (full-time). These are exciting opportunities as we continue the development of the Museum. Since advertising these roles, it has been announced that the Wessex Museums Partnership will become an Arts Council-funded National Portfolio Organisation from April 2018.

 

Dr Paul Robinson, FSA

Monday, 24 April, 2017

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the recent death of Dr Paul Robinson who was Curator of the Museum until his retirement in 2008.

 

Interested in Wiltshire and its past?

Thursday, 09 March, 2017

The Wiltshire Museum in Devizes has outstanding collections of national and local importance. Run by a charity founded in 1853 we are examining exciting new opportunities and are seeking new trustees to help shape our future. We are particularly interested in hearing from you if you have skills or experience in marketing, audience development, developing projects or assisting with fundraising. However, if you have other skills that you can offer, then please do get in touch.

 

Highways England Consultation A303 Stonehenge

Friday, 03 March, 2017

The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society has submitted a response to this important consultation after seeking the views of its members on a draft document

 

Highways England Consultation A303 Stonehenge

Monday, 06 February, 2017

The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society is preparing a response to this important consultation and is seeking the views of its members on a draft document.

 

Rare flowers discovered in Roman hoard

Monday, 06 February, 2017

On display for the first time at the Museum are flowers and bracken used to pack a hoard of 8 Roman bronze vessels. The hoard was carefully buried, either to keep the bronze bowls safe or perhaps as a votive offering. The flowers are common knapweed and show that the bronze cauldrons were buried in the late summer and radio-carbon dated to the very earliest part of the post-Roman period, about 1,500 years ago.

 

Administration Assistant for Oexmann Art Competition 2017

Sunday, 11 December, 2016

In 1987 J. Richard Oexmann of Lexington, Kentucky USA gave the Wiltshire Museum £10,000 to endow a biennial art exhibition in memory of his wife Theophila Joan Oexmann (née Copland-Griffiths). The next competition is due to take place in March 2017, which will be the 15th time that it has been held here. The object of the competition is to encourage and promote Wiltshire Artists by providing cash prizes through the competition and subsequent exhibition. Entry is open to those born or living in the county of Wiltshire. The post holder will be required to support the Assistant Curator & Volunteer Co-ordinator (Competition Manager) with the administration of the competition and exhibition.

 

Free entry to WW1 Exhibition on Remembrance Sunday

Thursday, 10 November, 2016

We are delighted to be able to open the Museum free on Remembrance Sunday so that people in Devizes can see our fantastic Battle of the Somme exhibition.

 

Exciting plans for Wiltshire Museum

Monday, 26 September, 2016

The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society is looking at the potential of moving the Wiltshire Museum to the Devizes Assize Courts, turning the historic building into a landmark tourism asset for the County.

 

Seeing the Light of Day - Sustaining Archaeological Archives Consultancy opportunity

Tuesday, 13 September, 2016

The Wiltshire Museum is the lead partner in the Seeing the Light of Day - Sustainaing Archaeological Archives project that has been awarded funding from the Arts Council England Museum Resilience Fund. The project aims to develop a sustainable solution to the management, accessibility and long-term preservation of archaeological archives. We are advertising two consultancies to implement the project, working with a range of partners across the South West.

 

Member survey

Tuesday, 06 September, 2016

Survey

 

Seeing the Light of Day - ACE Funding Award for SW Regional Archaeological Archives project

Tuesday, 02 August, 2016

Arts Council England has today announced that it is awarding £45,000 to a group of organisations working across the South West to try to solve the crisis facing museum archaeology. The project is led by the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes.

 

Archive and Library re-open!

Sunday, 08 May, 2016

The Archive and Library is now open again following the refit of our archive and art stores. There is still some associated work to do, particularly updating the catalogue database to record the new locations of books and documents; this work will continue over the coming weeks, but it should not interfere with the smooth running of the library.

 

Stonehenge cremations - the diary of W.E.V. Young

Tuesday, 02 February, 2016

The latest edition of British Archaeology includes an article by editor, Mike Pitts, about the fascinating story of the Neolithic cremation burials found at Stonehenge. The diary of W.E.V. Young tells how these cremations were reburied, keeping this important evidence safe so that archaeologist of today can re-examine them, adding new scientific evidence to the story of Stonehenge. The diaries are part of the nationally important collections of the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes.

 

Museum secures rare Saxon coin for Wiltshire!

Friday, 04 December, 2015

The Wiltshire Museum has successfully acquired a rare and important Saxon coin found at East Grafton, near Bedwyn, Wiltshire. The coin was purchased at an auction held by Spink in London on 3 December. The coin had an estimate of between £8,000 and £12,000 and the Museum was successful with a winning bid of £18,000. The Wiltshire Museum was awarded grants towards the purchase by the Arts Council England / Victoria and Albert Purchase Grant Fund and the Art Fund. In addition, donations and pledges were given through a fundraising appeal launched by the museum.

 

Museum launches fund-raising campaign to secure rare Saxon coin from East Grafton, near Bedwyn, Wiltshire

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

The Museum has launched a fund-raising appeal to secure a rare Saxon Gold coin found at East Grafton, a village between Burbage and Great Bedwyn. The coin was struck in modern-day France between about AD655 and AD 675. The coin is being auctioned in early December with an estimate of up to £12,000.

 

Work with us! I Vacancy for a Visitor Services Officer

Wednesday, 23 September, 2015

We have a part-time vacancy for an enthusiastic, organised and flexible individual to run our front of house, assist with events and much more ...

 

Gold sun disc from the time of Stonehenge on display for the first time for the summer solstice

Friday, 19 June, 2015

An early Bronze Age sun-disc from Monkton Farleigh in Wiltshire has gone on display for the first time. This is one of only 6 finds of sun-discs discovered and is one of the earliest metal objects found in Britain. It was made in about 2,400 BC, soon after the sarsen stones were put up at Stonehenge, and is thought to represent the sun.

 

Work with us as Development Officer!

Monday, 15 June, 2015

We are now looking to appoint a Development Officer to support our objective to strengthen and broaden our links with members, supporters, stakeholders, charitable trusts and funding bodies.

 

Exploring Prehistoric Wessex

Thursday, 12 March, 2015

Visit atmospheric and inspirational sites and museums and follow a trail from Avebury and Stonehenge to Dorchester and Maiden Castle.

 

Wiltshire's Story in 100 Objects

Wednesday, 11 March, 2015

The Story of Wiltshire told in 100 objects selected from Museums across the County. Main touring exhibition now at Chippenham Museum until 12 September!

 

1,000 CHILDREN FIND OUT ABOUT PREHISTORY AT THE WILTSHIRE MUSEUM

Wednesday, 21 January, 2015

The new primary school history curriculum includes prehistory for the first time, and teachers are turning to the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes for help.

 

Vacancy - Administration Assistant Oexmann Competition

Thursday, 08 January, 2015

In 1987 J. Richard Oexmann of Lexington, Kentucky USA gave the Wiltshire Archaeological and Hatural History Society an endowment to support a biennial art exhibition in memory of his wife Theophila Joan Oexmann (née Copland-Griffiths). This year’s competition will take place in March 2015, and this will be the 14th time that it has been held. The competition aims to encourage and promote Wiltshire Artists by providing cash prizes through the competition and subsequent exhibition. The post holder will be required to support the Assistant Curator & Volunteer Co-ordinator (Competition Manager) with the administration of the competition and exhibition.

 

Vacancy - Assistant Learning and Outreach Officer

Monday, 17 November, 2014

We are looking for an individual to work alongside our Learning and Outreach Officer at this busy time, running workshops and events to existing lesson plans. We are looking for someone with enthusiasm who can be flexible in their approach.

 

Publicity Officer

Friday, 19 September, 2014

We are looking for someone who will help us promote the Museum and events and encourage people to visit and support the Museum. We are looking for someone with enthusiasm who can be flexible in their approach.

 

Telling Wiltshire's Story

Tuesday, 16 September, 2014

Want to work with us on an exciting new project? The Wessex Museums Partnership has been awarded funding by the Arts Council through the Renaissance Strategic Support Fund in 2014 to deliver an exhibition to tell the Story of Wiltshire told through objects, inspired by the British Museum Story of the World in 100 Objects. We are looking for someone to help us deliver the project.

 

Stonehenge elite's finest treasures were made by children

Saturday, 13 September, 2014

A new BBC2 programme features new research about the finds from Bush Barrow - Britain's richest Bronze Age burial.

 

Easter opening

Thursday, 17 April, 2014

We will be open throughout Easter! Good Friday - noon - 4pm, Saturday - 10am - 5pm Family activities from 11am, Easter Sunday - noon - 4pm, Easter Monday - noon - 4pm.

 

British Museum and Wiltshire Museum jointly acquire the unique Lacock Cup

Tuesday, 24 December, 2013

The British Museum and Wiltshire Museum have jointly acquired the Lacock Cup, one of the most significant pieces of secular English medieval silver with support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and private donations. Dating from the mid 15th century, the Lacock Cup is an English silver and partially gilded drinking cup which has been owned by the Church of St. Cyriac in Lacock, Wiltshire, and used by its congregation for over 400 years. It has been on loan to the British Museum since 1963 and until the 1980s continued to return to the church to be used as a chalice for certain religious festivals. The Lacock Cup is a stunning piece of craftsmanship and has a unique history. In the medieval period the Cup was used for feasting. The Cup is elegantly decorated, formed of hammered sheet silver, edged with gothic motifs and twisted ropework which has been gilded. The sweeping lid and trumpet shaped foot would have drawn the attention of the viewer, as it does today. In the post-Reformation era, the Cup became a sacred vessel: a chalice for communion wine in a Protestant church. The dual roles of this piece, as feasting cup and holy chalice, offer a window onto the turbulence of the Reformation, when long held traditions as reflected in art were transformed under successive Protestant and Catholic monarchs. It encapsulates a rich array of practices, historical shifts, and both human and divine associations.

 

More about our award-winning new galleries

Sunday, 13 October, 2013

GOLD FROM THE TIME OF STONEHENGE Britain’s greatest treasures from the mysterious golden Age of Stonehenge are now on permanent display for the first time. This is the largest collection of Early Bronze Age gold ever put on public display in England and our new displays transform public understanding of the Stonehenge era. Our award-winning displays feature 500 Stonehenge period objects, including 30 pieces of gold treasure which have rarely been seen by the public before.

 

Gold from the time of Stonehenge: new prehistory galleries opening 14 October!

Monday, 16 September, 2013

Gold from the time of Stonehenge: new prehistory galleries at the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes Opening on 14 October, a completely new display over 4 galleries will tell the story of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site.

 

Walking Wiltshire's White Horses: Create Your Escape!

Wednesday, 15 May, 2013

Join us for 3 months of creative and outdoors activity in and around 100 miles of stunning Wiltshire landscape and eight white horses.

 

Artists Ali Pretty and Richard White will be in residence in July and August at The Wiltshire Museum creating an immersive installation opening on 15 August inspired by the walks. It all culminates in a public 100 mile walk around The White Horse Trail over the bank holiday weekend generating an online story and live link back to the installation. Silk ‘escape maps’ created with the community will be presented on the walk and on 31 August at The Devizes Carnival.

 

What's next?

15-31 August - Freedom on my Doorstep - Exhibition and Installation

22-26 August - Walking Wiltshire's White Horses - arrival during the Devizes International Street Festival

 

Find out more ...

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WANHS PRIZE DRAW

Friday, 30 November, 2012

The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Prize Draw took place on Thursday 29 November. The winning tickets are:

 

Like to join our team as a volunteer?

Monday, 19 November, 2012

We are looking for people who would be interested in helping us, particularly by helping in our shop and on reception at the weekends.

 

It's all happening at Half Term!

Thursday, 25 October, 2012

It is all happening at the Museum! Two new exhibitions, holiday activities and a Mammoth Big Draw Family Day. And even better, entry to the Museum is free!!

 

Vacancy - Project Manager

Tuesday, 07 August, 2012

Want to work with us to project manage our Prehistoric Wiltshire Galleries project?

 

Lost book by artist Eric Ravilious goes on show for the first time

Friday, 22 June, 2012

Eric Ravilious (1903-1942) was one of the leading artists of the 1930’s, who captured the essence of the English landscape in his stunning watercolours. No landscape inspired him more than the chalk downs of southern England. Intrigued by white horses and hill figures, he painted a series of watercolours that were destined to be featured in the children's ‘Puffin’ series. His 'dummy' of the book, lost for decades, has just been purchased by the Museum and is now on display for the first time.

 

Visitor Services Officer

Saturday, 26 May, 2012

We are advertising s Visitor Services Officer post, either for one person or as a job-share between 2 people. Closing date is Thursday 21 June, with a preferred date for interviews of Tuesday 26 June.

 

The Story of Devizes - new exhibition at Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Saturday, 28 April, 2012

Our new exhibition opened on 28 April and tells the story of the town’s history and development, using objects from the Museum’s collections. But why is the town situated here, why does it have such an unusual name and how has it developed over the centuries? Come along and find out....

 

Vote of confidence in Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Thursday, 29 March, 2012

lead

 

Heritage Lottery Fund vote of confidence in Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Thursday, 29 March, 2012

The Wiltshire Heritage Museum has been awarded £370,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to support plans to create a new gallery focusing on their outstanding Bronze Age archaeological collections. This will tell the story of the people who built and used the world renowned monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury. The new Prehistoric Galleries will provide an opportunity to display for the first time in generations the unique gold and amber finds from Wiltshire that date back to the Bronze Age, over 4,000 years ago. This was a time of shaman and priests, learning and culture and contacts across Europe. The Museum will be able to build on its existing learning and outreach programme, and inspire local people and visitors to become engaged and informed about the prehistoric landscapes of Wiltshire.

 

Historian Asa Briggs to give Museum Fundraising Lecture

Saturday, 17 March, 2012

Renowned historian, Lord Asa Briggs, will be presenting a fundraising lecture for Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 31 March at Devizes Town Hall. History and its Neighbours will draw on Lord Brigg’s experiences as a historian to look at how and why our perspectives of history change. He will also draw on some of the experiences of what he termed the ‘remarkable’ Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (which owns and administers the Wiltshire Heritage Museum), founded in 1853. He has been as deeply interested in the relationship between local, national and global history as WANHS has. The lecture title is the same as that for his inaugural lecture as Professor of History at Leeds University in 1955.

 

Exhibition by Local Metal Detectorists

Thursday, 01 March, 2012

An exhibition Detecting Wiltshire’s Past: finds by the Trowbridge Metal Detecting Club, recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme is now on display at Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

 

Landscapes with Stones - new exhibition

Saturday, 14 January, 2012

Our new exhibition by landscape artist Nick Schlee has just opened, featuring the artists dramatic work capturing the power and magic of the ancient sites of Avebury and the Ridgeway.

 

Story of Devizes Exhibition

Thursday, 05 January, 2012

Can you help us develop our exhibition?

 

We need your Help - letter from our Chairman, Dr Negley Harte, Chairman

Wednesday, 28 December, 2011

Members who attended the recent AGM will have heard the stark warning from Peter Glasson, our Treasurer. He announced that the budgeted deficit for the Society for the current year would be over £100,000, and that if we continued to spend at this rate the Society would run out of money in two or three years time and become effectively bankrupt.

 

The Past is Another County: an exhibition by the Elementals art group

Saturday, 29 October, 2011

New art exhibition inspired by the prehistory of Wiltshire. The exhibition is the culmination of a project conceived to bring together the ideas and inspirations of six different artists under a central theme. Elementals is a group of women artists - Jenny Ford, Jan Knight, Julia Leyden, Christine Shorney, Josephine Sumner and guest artist Charlotte Sainsbury - with very different backgrounds who have found that the county of Wiltshire has created a unifying influence both geographically and aesthetically.

 

Half-Term activities and Family Day

Monday, 17 October, 2011

Holiday activities and a Romans vs Celts Family Day will be held at Wiltshire Heritage Museum during the October half-term school holidays.

 

Cards for Good Causes and Craft Exhibition at Museum

Tuesday, 11 October, 2011

Cards for Good Causes will be available at Wiltshire Heritage Museum this year, where there will also be a crafts exhibition, tempting you to buy a unique and individual item for Christmas. In addition entry to the Museum will be free during this period.

 

AGM and Lecture

Tuesday, 04 October, 2011

The Annual General Meetings of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society will take place at Devizes Town Hall on Saturday 8 October at 2.30pm. This will be followed by a talk by Julian Richards.

 

Historian Juliet Gardiner to give Fundraising Lecture

Monday, 05 September, 2011

Historian Juliet Gardiner, who may be familiar to many from TV programmes such as The 1940s House, will be giving the 2011 Fundraising Lecture on behalf of Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 1 October at Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

 

Devizes Camera Club Biennial print exhibition opens at Museum

Friday, 02 September, 2011

Devizes Camera Club’s biennial print exhibition will be opened by Devizes Mayor, Cllr Sue Evans, on Sunday 4 September at Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

 

THE COLLECTING BUG: A DISPLAY OF PERSONAL COLLECTIONS

Monday, 23 May, 2011

The Collecting Bug: a display of personal collections, has opened at Wiltshire Heritage Museum and runs until 29 August 2011. It features a diverse range of items collected by members of the public – including model steam engines, representations of elephants, jewellery, decorated miniature plates and World War One postcards, medals and photographs.

 

Online survey

Sunday, 22 May, 2011

Please help us by completing our online survey. Thank you.

 

Thomas Hardy's Landscapes

Thursday, 21 April, 2011

A new exhibition Landscapes of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex, bringing together the works of artists Rob Pountney, Dave Gunning and David Inshaw, opens at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 28 May 2011.

 

Traditional Music Evening: Wiltshire Folk (Old and New)

Tuesday, 12 April, 2011

A Traditional Music Evening: Wiltshire Folk (Old and New) is being held at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Thursday 21 April. Visitors will also have an opportunity to look around the Museum too.

 

Fun Easter Activities for Families

Monday, 04 April, 2011

Holiday activities will be held at Wiltshire Heritage Museum during the Easter school holidays.

 

Heritage Lottery Fund awards development funding to Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Thursday, 31 March, 2011

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £58,200 in development funding to enable Wiltshire Heritage Museum to work up plans to create new Bronze Age Galleries. These will feature the rich finds from burials in the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, and will unveil brand new research on the collections by a team from the University of Birmingham. The project will encourage children to explore the prehistory of their local area and encourage visitors to Wiltshire to explore the nationally important collections.

 

Heritage Lottery Fund awards development funding to Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Thursday, 24 March, 2011

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded £58,200 in development funding to enable Wiltshire Heritage Museum to work up plans to create new Bronze Age Galleries. These will feature the rich finds from burials in the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, and will unveil brand new research on the collections by a team from the University of Birmingham. The project will encourage children to explore the prehistory of their local area and encourage visitors to Wiltshire to explore the nationally important collections.

 

Wiltshire Artists go on Display

Monday, 21 March, 2011

An exhibition of works by Wiltshire artists went on display at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 26 March 2011.

 

Lecture Series - 900 years of Wiltshire Churches

Monday, 14 March, 2011

A series of evening lectures entitled ‘900 years of Wiltshire Churches (c.1000-c1900)’ is taking place at Wiltshire Heritage Museum from 26 April.

 

OEXMANN ART COMPETITION

Wednesday, 02 March, 2011

A last minute reminder – from 3rd to 10th March pictures will be collected at Wiltshire Heritage Museum for our countywide art competition - the Oexmann Art Award competition.

 

Half-Term Holiday Activities and Family Day

Friday, 04 February, 2011

An Ancient Britons themed family day, is taking place on Sunday 27 February, coinciding with the BBC’s Hands on History campaign and forthcoming series A History of Ancient Britain. Fun activities for all the family include an opportunity to make prehistoric jewellery and pots, and for children to take part in building a scale wooden model of Stonehenge. Ancient technologist, Neil Burridge (who appears in episode 4 of the series on 2 March), will be demonstrating metal working and jewellery making, and making jewellery for children. Booking is not necessary, just come along any time between 11am and 4pm. Admission for the day is £2 per adult and children are free.

 

Museum Closure

Tuesday, 01 February, 2011

We are planning a bit of a ‘behind the scenes’ tidy up next week so the Museum and Library will be completely CLOSED on Wednesday 2nd February. It may also be necessary to close individual galleries during the remainder of the week – so if you are coming to see something specific please check before coming.

 

William Cunnington - Commemorating 200 years of one of Britain's first archaeologists

Thursday, 23 December, 2010

The Wiltshire Heritage Museum will be commemorating the 200th anniversary of the death of one of Britain’s first archaeologists, William Cunnington, by displaying two fragile manuscripts not normally seen by the general public – the original account of the discovery of Bronze Age gold objects from a woman’s grave at Upton Lovell, near Warminster, and beautiful watercolour drawings of the objects, painted by surveyor and artist Philip Crocker. Cunnington, who died on 31 December 1810 and is buried at Heytesbury Church, excavated hundreds of Bronze Age barrows in the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, and discovered the most outstanding group of early Bronze Age finds in Britain, most of which are on permanent display in the Museum.

 

Additions to White Horses and Hill Figures Exhibition

Friday, 17 December, 2010

Changes have been made to the White Horses and Hill Figures exhibition, which explores the chalk figures of Wiltshire and beyond, currently on show at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes. Firstly, the run of the exhibition has been extended until 27 February 2011 and secondly, some exciting additions have been made to the displays giving visitors the opportunity to see more fascinating objects, including new works by David Inshaw, Helen Chester, Anna Dillon, Joanna May and Alan Bond.

 

Turn Back Time with the BBC - Devizes on Flickr!

Friday, 26 November, 2010

In November Wiltshire Heritage Museum organised a special display to coincide with the BBC series Turn Back Time: The High Street. See also our images on Flickr!

 

October Family Fun at Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Saturday, 23 October, 2010

We have organised a number of activities for families to do this half term, from Halloween workshops to a Victorian themed Family Day.

 

Come and join our team as Membership Services Officer.

Tuesday, 19 October, 2010

We are looking for someone to work with us on our Membership database, and to act as a contact point for our 1000+ members.

 

White Horses and Hill Figures Exhibition Extended

Monday, 13 September, 2010

Due to its tremendous success and popularity, the major exhibition at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum, White Horses and Hill Figures, has been extended until 27 February 2011.

 

Charity Auction

Wednesday, 08 September, 2010

This Sunday there will be an auction of promises at Wiltshire Heritage Museum, with 20 lots ranging from lunch with an MP to a day fishing on the River Avon. The afternoon will be hosted by Alan Aldridge, the well-known local auctioneer.

 

Geology Evening Classes at Museum

Wednesday, 01 September, 2010

A series of evening lectures ‘Introduction to Geology: Understanding the Landscape’ will be held at Wiltshire Heritage Museum during the autumn.

 

Wiltshire Rural Life Society collections moves to Devizes

Wednesday, 25 August, 2010

The Lackham Museum of Agriculture and Rural Life Trust has decided to pass to the Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes, the collection of the Wiltshire Rural Life Society, which was on display in the Great Barn at Avebury until 2000.

 

WILTSHIRE WHITE HORSES AND HILL FIGURES FORUM

Wednesday, 11 August, 2010

A forum on the White Horses and Hill Figures of Wiltshire will be held at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 11 September 2010.

 

Family History and Surnames - Annual Fundraising Lecture

Monday, 09 August, 2010

‘Family History and Surnames’ is the topic of the Annual Fundraising Lecture to be given by Professor David Hey on Saturday 25 September at the Corn Exchange Devizes, on behalf of the Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

 

ADDITIONS TO WHITE HORSES AND HILL FIGURES EXHIBITION

Saturday, 07 August, 2010

Some changes have been made to our popular White Horses and Hill Figures exhibition. Artworks by locally and nationally important artists, including examples of works by artists David Inshaw, Brian Rusher, Helen Chester and Sarah Padwick, have been added to the exhibition.

 

More of Museum Collections go on-line

Monday, 02 August, 2010

Included in the 3,500 records of items in the collections of Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes recently uploaded to the www.wiltshireheritagecollections.org.uk/ website, are records for the artefacts found at the 1969 excavation of Marden Henge, currently being excavated by English Heritage.

 

SUMMER SUNDAY TEAS AT THE MUSEUM

Tuesday, 27 July, 2010

On Sunday afternoons during August afternoon teas will be available at Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes. Visitors will be able to purchase a cream tea or a slice of home-made cake, all made by Museum volunteers, sit down with a cup of tea and chat to other visitors – or just read the Sunday paper.

 

SUMMER EVENTS FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Monday, 19 July, 2010

A Family Day with craft and archaeology based activities for the whole family is being held at the Museum on Sunday 25 July, from 11am to 4pm, as part of the Festival of British Archaeology.

 

Has Calne Castle been found?

Tuesday, 13 July, 2010

Archaeologists are puzzled by the latest evidence from the excavation on the possible site of Calne Castle.

 

Bus to link Stonehenge and Avebury!

Thursday, 01 July, 2010

The Wiltshire Heritage Museum is considering launching a bus service to link Stonehenge and Avebury. At the moment, it is extremely difficult to travel between the two, and the Museum hopes to be able to boost tourism in the Vale of Pewsey and the Avon Valley.

 

Bus to link Stonehenge and Avebury!

Wednesday, 23 June, 2010

Pilot bus service

 

White Horses and Hill Figures: summer exhibition and events

Wednesday, 26 May, 2010

Come and see our White Horses and Hill Figures exhibition and take part in one of the many events organised to coincide with it.

 

Museum on Time Team this Sunday!

Thursday, 20 May, 2010

This Sundays’ Time Team features the Roman town of Cunetio – the important Roman town that lies close to Marlborough. Filming featured finds from excavations on display at Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes.

 

Museum Librarian to retire

Thursday, 22 April, 2010

Our long-standing Librarian, Dr Lorna Haycock, has announced that she will be retiring in June, after 20 years service at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

 

Seeking a new Librarian and Archivist

Thursday, 22 April, 2010

Following the announcement that Lorna Haycock, the Sandell Librarian, is to retire, we are now seeking to appoint a new Librarian and Archivist.

 

White Horses and Hill Figures: summer exhibition

Friday, 26 March, 2010

White Horses and Hill Figures, our exciting major exhibition for the Summer of 2010 is now open!

 

Want to work in Museums? An opportunity for Young People!

Monday, 22 February, 2010

We are recruiting a Creative Apprentice to join us at the Museum! Creative Apprenticeships are a brand new alternative route into the creative industries, one based on ability and potential rather than academic track record or social background and contacts.

 

Viking Family Day at Museum - 21 February

Wednesday, 10 February, 2010

The Museum is holding a Viking Family Day on Sunday 21 February from 11am to 4pm. The Temesvikings re-enactment group will be setting up a tent and giving short talks on Viking life.

 

Special evening lecture - Wiltshire at War 25 Feb

Friday, 05 February, 2010

Thursday 25 February at 7.30pm - "Wiltshire at War: Recording Wiltshire's Wartime Landscape from aerial photographs, field investigations and documentary sources", by Dan Miles and Edward Carpenter from English Heritage's National Monuments Records in Swindon.

 

MUSEUM AND LIBRARY CLOSURE

Tuesday, 02 February, 2010

The Museum and Library will be closed for cleaning Wednesday 3 February to Friday 5 February (inclusive). Urgent enquiries, including booking for the lecture on Saturday,

 

WW2 lectures coming up - Salisbury Plain and Devives

Sunday, 31 January, 2010

We have two fascinating lectures coming up in the next few weeks about Wiltshire at War, running alongside our Special Exhibition. Book now to make sure you have a ticket!

 

Wiltshire museums join forces to tell story of Stonehenge

Monday, 11 January, 2010

English Heritage, the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, and the Wiltshire Heritage Museum have agreed to collaborate on presenting and interpreting the story of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site.

 

Help us purchase a German Prisoner of War Diary

Wednesday, 30 December, 2009

The Wiltshire Heritage Museum is hoping to purchase an unusual diary written by a German prisoner of war held at Le Marchant Camp in Devizes between 1944 and 1946.

 

Current Exhibition: On the Home Front: Wiltshire in World War II

Friday, 18 December, 2009

Using photographs and original items this exhibition shows how the Wiltshire population dealt with the disruption and hardship of war. Go to the What's On section for details of lectures associated with the exhibition.

 

New exhibition now open! On the Home Front: Wiltshire in World War II

Monday, 16 November, 2009

Our new exhibition about life on the Wiltshire Home Front during World War II is now open, and over 200 people came to the launch.

 

EELES FAMILY POTTERY EXHIBITION

Friday, 09 October, 2009

An exhibition of work by the Eeles Family Pottery will be on display at Wiltshire Heritage Museum from 3 to 30 October 2009.

 

Museum launches appeal - can you help us by donating online?

Friday, 02 October, 2009

The Museum has just received the wonderful news that it has been awarded a grant of £150,000 towards the £500,000 we need for future development. This is a magnificent first step towards our long-term project to create a new Bronze Age gallery to display our nationally important collections and to install a lift, which is important for those unable to climb the stairs. All of the grant has to be used on development work; none can be used for running the Museum.

 

150 year old Wiltshire library goes digital - thanks to Google

Thursday, 01 October, 2009

The Wiltshire Heritage Museum library has just gone online with a full digital library created in just 5 months using the controversial Google Books service.

 

Museum awarded fundraising boost!

Wednesday, 23 September, 2009

Wiltshire Heritage Museum has been awarded £4,500 by the Association for Independent Museums Sustainability Fund. This welcome funding boost will enable the Museum to employ a part-time fundraiser to increase its income.

 

Museum celebrates £150,000 grant success

Monday, 31 August, 2009

Wiltshire Heritage Museum is celebrating an award of £150,000 to help create a new prehistory gallery at the museum.

 

Archaeology Family Day at Museum

Tuesday, 28 July, 2009

An Archaeology themed Family Day is being held at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Sunday 2 August (11am – 4pm) as part of the 2009 Festival of British Archaeology.

 

Roman coin hoard goes on display

Wednesday, 22 July, 2009

A hoard of Roman coins discovered at Alton Barnes in 2005 is going on permanent display at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 25 July to mark the 2009 Festival of British Archaeology.

 

ENGLISH HERITAGE EXHIBITION AT MUSEUM

Saturday, 18 July, 2009

We are hosting, FOR THREE DAYS ONLY, English Heritage's exhibition about the selected location for the new visitor facilities at Stonehenge.

 

Celebration of the Wierd and Wonderful - Julian Richards

Saturday, 27 June, 2009

Julian Richards will be sharing his enthusiasm about the wierd and wondeful 'Souvenirs of Stonehenge: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' at a talk on behalf of Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 18 July 2009.

 

New display for Britain’s first Crown Jewels

Monday, 11 May, 2009

Today the campaign is launched to raise the £500,000 needed for the first permanent display of Britain’s most important Bronze Age burial. Discovered at Bush Barrow 200 years ago, the burial of a ‘stout and tall man’ has been described as “the king of Stonehenge” by the Daily Mail.

 

New Exhibition: Inspired by Stonehenge

Tuesday, 05 May, 2009

A new exhibition featuring memorabilia about Stonehenge opens at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on 16 May 2009.

 

Filming in the snow

Friday, 06 February, 2009

Wiltshire College students are not letting a little snow get in the way of shooting a good video! They have been commissioned by Wiltshire Heritage Museum to shoot a series of videos as part of a project to improve visitor facilities and interpretation at Wiltshire Heritage Museum. Meanwhile, the work on creating a wheelchair accessible toilet, revamping the special exhibition gallery and installing energy efficient lighting is nearing completion, with a grand launch on 16th March.

 

Exhibition of Gold

Tuesday, 07 October, 2008

THIS WEEKEND: A very special exhibition of objects rarely displayed, including gold, will be on show at Wiltshire Heritage Museum over the weekend of 25 and 26 October 2008. The finds were excavated from Bush Barrow, Salisbury Plain, in 1808; the richest and most important Bronze Age grave excavated in Britain.

 

In the Footsteps of Churchill: A Lecture by Prof. Richard Holmes

Wednesday, 17 September, 2008

Professor Richard Holmes, author and presenter of BBC programmes on military history, will be giving this year’s fundraising lecture in aid of Wiltshire Heritage Museum. In the Footsteps of Churchill will take place at Devizes Town Hall on Saturday 18 October at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £15 and are available from the Museum in Long Street, Devizes (or telephone 01380 727369).

 

Exhibition of Works by David Gunning

Tuesday, 17 June, 2008

A new exhibition of drawings by David Gunning will be on display at Wiltshire Heritage Museum from 28 June.

 

Volunteers meet new Director

Tuesday, 03 June, 2008

As part of Volunteers’ Week, a national event now in its 24th year, the Wiltshire Heritage Museum invited all of its Volunteers to attend a Summer Coffee Morning on Tuesday 3 June 2008.

 

Exhibition about Imber

Thursday, 24 April, 2008

A new special display telling the story of Imber village on Salisbury Plain opens on 3 May at Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

 

Library Pass Introduced at Museum

Tuesday, 22 April, 2008

We have made it cheaper for researchers to use our Library with the introduction of a Library pass. The Library contains a wealth of information for anyone interested in researching local or family history, the archaeology or natural history of the county. The Library Pass costs £12 (£9 for concessions) and entitles a researcher to four visits to the Library – the usual cost would be £16 (£12 concessions).

 

Exhibition by Richard Shirley Smith

Wednesday, 09 April, 2008

A new exhibition displaying work by local artist Richard Shirley Smith opened on 5 April at Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

 

New Director at Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Tuesday, 01 April, 2008

Mr David Dawson has been appointed the new Director of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society and Wiltshire Heritage Museum based in Devizes. His appointment follows the retirement of Dr Paul Robinson at the end of February, who had been Curator at the Museum since 1986.

 

Sport: a History of the Clubs in and around Devizes

Friday, 18 January, 2008

A new exhibition ‘Sport: a History of the Clubs in and around Devizes’ opens at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 19 January. Featuring items from both the Museum’s own collection and those of local sports clubs, this new exhibition is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the history of sport in and around Devizes. With contributions from the town’s football, rugby and bowls clubs, the exhibition tells the story of how these clubs, and others like them, got started.

 

Devizes Then and Now: an Exhibition of Photographs

Monday, 03 December, 2007

The new exhibition at Wiltshire Heritage Museum ‘Devizes Then and Now: An Exhibition of Photographs’, will be opened by the Mayor of Devizes, Councillor Julian Beinhorn on Monday 3 December 2007.

 

Exhibition by Trowbridge College Lecturer

Thursday, 11 October, 2007

The current exhibition at Wiltshire Heritage Museum, which opened on Saturday 6 October, is of paintings by Anthony Williams, a lecturer at Wiltshire College, Trowbridge who teaches on the Foundation Art and Design Course.

 

Before the Mast: Life on Board the Mary Rose - a Lecture

Monday, 08 October, 2007

The subject of this year’s fundraising lecture in aid of Wiltshire Heritage Museum is life on board the Mary Rose. The lecture by Dr Julie Gardiner, editor of Before the Mast: Life and Death aboard the Mary Rose, will take place at Devizes Town Hall on Saturday 10 November at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £12 and are available from the Museum in Long Street, Devizes (or telephone 01380 727369).

 

Government Grant to Museum

Monday, 03 September, 2007

The Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes has been awarded a grant of £11,000 towards visitor access improvements at the Museum. The grant, announced last week by the Government, is part of a £4m fund which will benefit 43 museums and galleries in England.

 

All About Stonehenge

Thursday, 19 July, 2007

A new exhibition of paintings devoted solely to Stonehenge will be opening at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum on 20 July. The Museum has been fortunate in having recently acquired a number of important works depicting the monument and this exhibition is an opportunity for members of the public to view them.

 

What Makes Devizes Special?

Thursday, 05 July, 2007

An illustrated lecture ‘What Makes Devizes Special’? will be presented by Dr Lorna Haycock at Devizes Town Hall on Saturday 28 July at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £5 and are available from Wiltshire Heritage Museum. Funds raised will go towards the work of maintaining the Wiltshire Heritage Museum and Library.

 

Oexmann Art Award Exhibition

Tuesday, 05 June, 2007

An exhibition displaying winning and selected entries from the tenth biennial Oexmann Art Awards Competition opened on Saturday 2 June.

 

Oexmann Art Awards Prize-giving

Thursday, 31 May, 2007

Prizes for the tenth biennial Oexmann Art Awards Competition will be awarded on Saturday 2 June from 5pm. The prize-giving also marks the opening of an exhibition of the winners and selected entries.

 

A Victorian Castle in Devizes

Friday, 11 May, 2007

A new exhibition recently opened at Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes giving visitors the opportunity to see inside Devizes Castle in its Victorian heyday.

 

A Gruesome and Melancholy End

Thursday, 10 May, 2007

A new acquisition for the library at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum details the execution in 1824 at Devizes Prison of two men from Pewsey and All Cannings for the robbing and attempted murder of a local farmer.

 

Object of the Month: March

Friday, 02 March, 2007

The Museum’s ‘Object of the Month’ for March is a memento of the abolition of the slave trade in 1807.

 

Thomas Hardy's Landscapes - an exhibition of drawings by Robert Pountney

Friday, 23 February, 2007

An exhibition of drawings inspired by the landscape of Thomas Hardy’s novels and poems opens at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 24 February.

 

The Collecting Bug: an Exhibition of some local private collections

Tuesday, 06 February, 2007

An exhibition of unusual local collections is taking place at Wiltshire Heritage Museum from 31 January to 21 April.

 

Object of the Month: A new initiative

Wednesday, 31 January, 2007

From February Wiltshire Heritage Museum will each month be displaying a very special object from the Museum’s reserve collection. This ‘Object of the Month’ will be visually attractive, unusual and have a special story attached to it.

 

History from the Air

Thursday, 25 January, 2007

English Heritage’s touring exhibition ‘Aerial Photography and Archaeology - 100 years of Discovery’ opened at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on 17 January.

 

Join The Club

Wednesday, 17 January, 2007

The Wiltshire Heritage Museum is hosting an event called 'Join the Club' on Tuesday 23 January from 3 - 8 pm: an opportunity for visitors to learn more about local organisations and how they can get involved.

 

Festive Finds Day

Thursday, 30 November, 2006

The Finds Liaison Officer for Wiltshire, Katie Hinds, will be holding a finds identification session at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Monday 18 December between 10 am and 3 pm. Entry is free.

 

Childrens Christmas Quiz at the Museum

Tuesday, 21 November, 2006

A display of objects from the Museum’s recent history collection is the focus of a new exhibition opening on 24 November.

 

George Eliot in Wiltshire: from Lacock to Bowood to the Beaufort Hunt

Wednesday, 08 November, 2006

American Professor of English, Kathleen McCormack, will be presenting a lecture ‘George Eliot: from Lacock to Bowood to the Beaufort Hunt’ at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Sunday 19 November at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £3.00 in advance (£3.50 on the day) and are available from the Museum shop. This is the first time a lecture has been arranged for a Sunday afternoon and it is hoped it will appeal to local people who are busy during the week.

 

‘Resonance: engaging with the archaeology of place’

Wednesday, 01 November, 2006

An exhibition of artwork by Sue Bradshaw opens at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Saturday 11 November and will incorporate a 3D installation of oil paintings, painting, printmaking and artefacts.

 

Museum Fundraising Lecture: The Stonehenge Riverside Project

Tuesday, 17 October, 2006

The Museum Fundraising Lecture this year is entitled ‘The Stonehenge Riverside Project’ and will be presented by Prof. Mike Parker-Pearson of Sheffield University at 2.30 pm on Saturday 9 December at Devizes Town Hall. Tickets cost £10.00 from the Museum shop.

 

Flowers and Gardens: an exhibition of recent watercolours by Wendy Trinder BSc, SWA, FSBA

Thursday, 14 September, 2006

An exhibition of watercolour paintings of flowers and gardens, by local artist Wendy Trinder opens at the Museum on 16 September 2006.

 

The Medieval Hearth: Food and Drink in the Middle Ages

Thursday, 14 September, 2006

An exhibition looking at food and drink in the Middle Ages opened at the Museum on 7 September, and coincides with the 2nd Devizes Food Festival.

 

August Activities at the Museum

Friday, 04 August, 2006

There is no reason to be bored during the school holidays as the Museum has many activities and events for all the family.

 

Wiltshire Crop Circles: Images in the Landscape

Friday, 30 June, 2006

An exhibition of photographic images and black and white drawings of crop circles in the historic Wiltshire landscape opens at the Museum on 8 July 2006.

 

Museum Acquires Important medieval jewellery

Thursday, 22 June, 2006

Two exquisite examples of medieval jewellery found by metal detectorists in Wiltshire have been acquired by the Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

 

Devizes Market Place Through the Ages

Tuesday, 30 May, 2006

Old photographs and images of Devizes Market Place will be on display in the Wiltshire Heritage Museum between 2 - 17 June, to coincide with the Devizes Festival.

 

Refurbished Art Gallery and Lecture Hall Opens

Tuesday, 16 May, 2006

A £42,000 project to improve the Museum’s Art Gallery and Lecture Hall will be completed this week. The much needed improvements include a new computer-controlled lighting system for the Art Gallery, air conditioning for both the Art Gallery and Lecture Hall and installation of a modern ceiling mounted digital projector in the Lecture Room.

 

Homage to Eve - An exhibition by members, past and present, of The Brotherhood of Ruralists

Friday, 12 May, 2006

The Devizes poet, Eve Machin, will be celebrated in a special exhibition by the Brotherhood of Ruralists, which opens on Saturday 13 May. The exhibition will also include works by local artist David Inshaw.

 

Forthcoming Activities for Children and Families at the Museum

Monday, 08 May, 2006

We will be launching our new children’s quiz sheet on Saturday 13th May. This covers all the galleries, encouraging children to look at the objects more closely and find out more about the collections. It will be available all summer to visitors.

 

Wiltshire Poets of World War 1

Thursday, 20 April, 2006

The poetry of two former Marlborough College students is the focus of a new exhibition at Wiltshire Heritage Museum, opening on 28 April 2006. The works of Siegfried Sassoon and Charles Hamilton Sorley, both of whom were educated at Marlborough College and later fought in the trenches of World War I, are explored and the effects of the war on their poetry revealed.

 

Stonehenge World Heritage Site: Highways Agency A303 Stonehenge Improvement Scheme Review Consultation

Thursday, 30 March, 2006

Collective Response from Conservation Organisations: On 17th March 2006, leading independent conservation organisations met to agree a common view of the current Highways Agency A303 Stonehenge Improvement Scheme Review consultation.

 

Life in Edwardian Devizes

Monday, 27 March, 2006

The run of the exhibition ‘Life in Edwardian Devizes’, focusing on the retail trade of Devizes 100 years ago, has been extended to 18 April.

 

Recognition for Museum

Tuesday, 21 March, 2006

Wiltshire Heritage Museum is delighted to announce that it has been awarded Full Accreditation by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). The Wiltshire Heritage Museum is one of the first museums in the South West to achieve this.

 

Museums Collections go Online

Thursday, 09 March, 2006

Visitors to the Wiltshire Heritage Museum website can now search more of the Museum’s online catalogue as 42,000 records and 1,500 images (photographs) have been uploaded to this site (click on ‘search the collections’ above). This is a major milestone in the Museum’s documentation project, which aims to computerise its entire collection.

 

The Romans are coming

Tuesday, 14 February, 2006

Wiltshire Heritage Museum’s first family day this year will be a Roman themed day taking place on Sunday 19th February between 12 and 4pm.

 

Life in Edwardian Devizes

Monday, 06 February, 2006

A new exhibition ‘Life in Edwardian Devizes’ opens at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on 3 February 2006. The exhibition focuses on Devizes as a local retail and trade centre 100 years ago and has been prepared in conjunction with the Devizes Chamber of Commerce which was formed in 1905.

 

Stonehenge Road Options Review

Monday, 23 January, 2006

Today’s announcement of the five options to be discussed in the review process for the A303 road through the Stonehenge landscape, with details of how that process is to be conducted, falls far short of serious consideration of possible alternative schemes that are appropriate for this iconic World Heritage site.

 

Images of a Devizes Street

Monday, 16 January, 2006

On Friday 13 January 'Images of a Devizes Street: paintings, drawings and photographs of Sheep Street, Devizes' opened. Sheep Street, Devizes was radically transformed in the mid-1950s as an area of over-crowded cottages and small shops in the fourteen courts were swept away as part of a post-war clearance scheme, to be replaced by six large blocks of flats. With outdoor sanitation and wash-houses, the cottages did not meet modern standards of hygiene, yet they had been for several centuries a lively and friendly community, housing twice the number of residents accommodated in the new flats.

 

Dolmens of Ganghwa Island. An exhibition of drawings of Megalithic Tombs in South Korea.

Friday, 11 November, 2005

David Gunning, one of the countries most accomplished contemporary artists, returns to Wiltshire Heritage Museum this month to exhibit some of his most recent work. An exceptionally fine artist, David Gunning has exhibited in over 50 one man shows and in numerous mixed exhibitions and competitions. Examples of his drawings are found in many private and municipal collections, some of the most prestigious being, Her Majesty the Queen’s Royal Collection, The Palace of Westminster. London, The National Museum of Wales, and the Birmingham Art Gallery & Museum.

 

The Siege of Devizes and the Battle of Roundway Down. An exhibition of original sources and relics.

Monday, 04 July, 2005

Sadly not many relics survive of the cavalry Battle of Roundway Down on 14 July 1643, certainly the best known and most important event in the long history of Devizes. After the battle all weapons from the fight that could be re-used would have been taken away by the victorious Royalist army, ‘scavengers’ from Devizes would have removed anything else that had been left on the battlefield while the bodies of the dead would have been stripped before burial.

 

Art in Wiltshire.

Thursday, 20 January, 2005

The Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Society is pleased to announce the publication of it's full colour book "Art in Wiltshire" on 2 February 2005.

 

Monkey Business at the Museum

Friday, 26 November, 2004

An item of lost property found itself making news in the local papers last month, but, despite this publicity, "Ginger Nut" the monkey has yet to be claimed by his owner and may well find himself a permanent resident.

 

Eeles Family Exhibition Opens

Saturday, 09 October, 2004

An exhibition by the Eeles family of potters was opened on Friday 8 October by the Society Chairman, Lt Col R C Chamberlain.

 

Stonehenge Visitor Centre Planning Application- Now available for viewing.

Monday, 04 October, 2004

A copy of the planning application for the proposed Stonehenge Visitor Centre has been deposited in the Wiltshire Heritage Library for members and the public to view. All Comments to be in by 26th October 2004.

 

New Website Launched!

Monday, 27 September, 2004

The Wiltshire Heritage Museum is proud to announce the opening of it's new website, completed as part of the New Opportunities Fund project "Window on Wiltshire's Heritage" and packed with wonderful images of the museum, library and gallery collections.

 

Discovering the Romans: The current excavation of Bradford on Avon Roman Villa

Saturday, 03 July, 2004

One of the most exciting archaeological discoveries in Wiltshire in recent years has been the Roman villa at Bradford on Avon. It had for many years been suspected that a Roman villa existed at Bradford on Avon but its exact location was for long an elusive mystery. The villa was finally discovered in 1999, lying only inches below the surface of the playing fields of St. Lawrence School. Excavation of the villa began in Summer 2002 and continued in 2003. The final season will be this summer.