Latest news with #StAlbansMuseums
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Archaeological dig in pub garden hailed 'huge success' as Roman remains found
An archaeological dig was opened to the public in the garden of the Rose & Crown pub in St Albans, which is being redeveloped, between Friday and Monday An archaeologist has praised a publicly accessible archaeological dig as a "huge success." The Rose & Crown pub in St Albans, currently undergoing redevelopment, opened its excavation site to the public from Friday to Monday. Volunteers from St Albans Museums unearthed medieval and Roman pottery during the dig, which visitors could examine closely on-site. The news comes after sinkhole in York opened up revealing the site of a former Roman legionary fortress. Archaeologist Tom Lucas remarked: "It's just given people a chance to see it happening and to understand the planning process and then the excavation process- it's the museum's mission to share this with everybody, I think it's been a huge success." Lucas highlighted that some of the Roman artefacts found, including pottery, tesserae, and painted wall plaster, were previously undiscovered in that area of the city, reports the Express. A handling table was set up at the dig for visitors to view materials freshly excavated. Children had the opportunity to learn about washing unearthed pottery fragments. The four-day event attracted approximately 2,400 visitors. This excavation was a collaborative effort involving drp archaeology, Minerva Archaeology Ltd, Verulamium Museum, with additional input from Place Services and Historic England. Minerva Archaeology is set to pen a detailed report on their recent discoveries. This will play a crucial role in the upcoming planning deliberations. Mr Lucas shared his insights: "Planning archaeology is not usually seen in this way, it's not hidden, it's just usually on construction sites. People don't really see it going on, but it's happening all around us all the time because it's enshrined in our planning policy. So it's good that it's been seen and everybody enjoyed it."
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeological dig at pub 'huge success'
An archaeologist has hailed an archaeological dig open to the public as a "huge success". As part of the redevelopment of the Rose & Crown pub in St Albans, an excavation was opened to visitors between Friday and Monday. During the dig, volunteers from St Albans Museums found pottery from medieval and Roman times, which members of the public could then see up close while visiting the site. Archaeologist Tom Lucas said: "It's just given people a chance to see it happening and to understand the planning process and then the excavation process- it's the museum's mission to share this with everybody, I think it's been a huge success." He noted that some of the Roman materials found during the dig, such as pottery, tesserae and painted wall plaster, had not been found in that part of the city before. At the site, a handling table was set up where visitors could see material after it was excavated. Children were also invited to learn how to wash pieces of pottery that had been uncovered. About 2,400 people visited the dig over the four-day period. Mr Lucas will now write a report on the team's findings, which will be considered as part of the planning process. He said: "Planning archaeology is not usually seen in this way, it's not hidden, it's just usually on construction sites. "People don't really see it going on, but it's happening all around us all the time because it's enshrined in our planning policy. So it's good that it's been seen and everybody enjoyed it." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Creating modern theatre in an ancient space Women who helped unearth Roman town celebrated 'Significant' finds in Roman town dig
BBC News
16-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Archaeological dig at St Albans pub 'huge success'
An archaeologist has hailed an archaeological dig open to the public as a "huge success".As part of the redevelopment of the Rose & Crown pub in St Albans, an excavation was opened to visitors between Friday and the dig, volunteers from St Albans Museums found pottery from medieval and Roman times, which members of the public could then see up close while visiting the Tom Lucas said: "It's just given people a chance to see it happening and to understand the planning process and then the excavation process- it's the museum's mission to share this with everybody, I think it's been a huge success." He noted that some of the Roman materials found during the dig, such as pottery, tesserae and painted wall plaster, had not been found in that part of the city the site, a handling table was set up where visitors could see material after it was were also invited to learn how to wash pieces of pottery that had been 2,400 people visited the dig over the four-day period. Mr Lucas will now write a report on the team's findings, which will be considered as part of the planning said: "Planning archaeology is not usually seen in this way, it's not hidden, it's just usually on construction sites."People don't really see it going on, but it's happening all around us all the time because it's enshrined in our planning policy. So it's good that it's been seen and everybody enjoyed it." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
24-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Exhibition marks 150 years of Hertfordshire wildlife group
The organisers of a wildlife exhibition hope to teach children about a county's natural environment and inspire them to protect its About Hertfordshire marks the 150th anniversary of the county's Natural History Society, which included Charles Darwin as an honorary free exhibition at St Albans Museum, which runs until 6 July, looks back at the Victorian origins of the society and ahead to challenges of climate change and habitat loss."There's no evidence that Darwin ever came to Hertfordshire but a lot of their early debates were about his evolutionary theory," said the society's secretary David Utting. His own passion for wildlife began as a child, thanks to "a marvellous teacher who was a very skilled natural historian"."I was very lucky that when I wasn't even 10 years old, I had this teacher. Anyone who came into contact with her got very excited about wildlife."It was mostly about birds to begin with, but I went out collecting all sorts of things – beetles, spiders, insects," he said. Along with other volunteers, he now goes out to identify and record Hertfordshire's wildlife, discovering anything from lizards to firecrest birds."We pull everything together and publish it, produce county atlases and we also feed into national databases," he said."You can't miss the fact that wildlife is declining. Birds are obvious as they migrate and are vulnerable at both ends of the journey. "The turtle dove has almost disappeared from Hertfordshire, and as far as we know we don't have any adders any more."But some things have been reintroduced. There are red kites all over Hertfordshire now, but in the 1980s, my wife and I had to go to West Wales to see them." A model of a peregrine falcon will be on display along with a 3D model of the River Ver chalk stream and the county's Pasque is also the chance to see rare HNHS botany books that date from 1479."We are excited to share our big birthday celebration and tell more people about our county's wonderful wildlife," Mr Utting added. "We want to inspire them – young and old – to go out and discover the natural world for themselves."Farhana Begum, head of St Albans Museums, said: "We hope this exhibition will help people to think about what is right on their doorstep and encourage them to get out into the natural world." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
