Malmesbury's Big Athelstan Dig Sites Revealed

DETAILS of 13 sites where archaeological digs will take place this coming weekend in Malmesbury have been revealed as Malmesbury’s Big Athelstan Dig begins. Three other sites of archaeological  interest will also be open to visit.

Archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology will be in Malmesbury preparing the various test pit sites for excavation on Thursday and Friday this week with support of students from Malmesbury School who will be learning about the skills and discipline of a dig, the finding, preservation and recording of finds. 

Each site will be open to the public from 10.30am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday (July  6 & 7).

The sites

with real digs taking place with test pits of around  a metre square each are:

*Latch Cottage, Holloway

*St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

*St Aldhelm’s Church

*Roundmead House, off St John’s Street

*30 Roundmead, off St John’s Street

*2 Parliament Row

*Memorial Gates at St Aldhelm’s Mead

*79 High Street

* Tangled Garden, King’s Walk

*Westgate Cottage, Gloucester Street

*33a Burnivale

*West Lodge, Bristol Street

*United Reformed Church, St Mary’s Street

Three other significant places in the town may also be visited: St. Helen’s Chapel on Bristol Street; St. Mary’s Hall at The Triangle and Abbey House Manor. Volunteer archaeologists will be on hand at Abbey House Manor to help explain a previously excavated  profile and explain the development of the area around the Abbey and the wider landscape around Malmesbury.  

The Trail Guides will be available in Malmesbury Town Hall from Friday 5th July and at each of the Big Dig sites when they are open at the weekend.