Welcome to GlosArch
The website of Gloucestershire Archaeology
GlosArch (Gloucestershire Archaeology) is a local archaeology society with a mission to widen public knowledge of the fabulous archaeology and history of the county of Gloucestershire. Between September and April we hold an monthly series of public lectures by guest speakers on a range of archaeological and historical topics and in the summer we run a programme of visits to sites of interest. In addition, we have an active programme of archaeological fieldwork for members, both excavation and geophysical surveying, and run an osteoarchaeology recording group. No previous experience is needed to take part in these activities.
We publish a newsletter twice a year and our annual journal, Glevensis, which is in its 56th edition, carries reports on archaeological and historical topics by professional and amateur researchers.
If you share our passion for the past, why not join us?
Latest News
December Lecture Monday 16th December 2024
In a change to the published programme, the Glosarch December lecture now takes place on Monday 16th December. We are pleased to announce that the speaker will now be Phil Brant-Simmons, whose subject will be: An introduction to Roman Corinium.
Next Monday (25th), the November lecture will be given by GlosArch dig director Neil Cathie. Neil will be telling the story of the excavation at Honeycombe so far and has some exciting news about the finds from our previous dig at Brookthorpe.
The Zoom link has been circulated to members. Non-members can receive the link, free of charge, by emailing mailbox@glosarch.org.uk
GlosArch November 2025 lecture
In October we were fascinated to hear Dr Reb Ellis-Haken from the University of York, present the preliminary analysis of the mysterious carved stone heads found at the Dean Hall Romano-Celtic temple which are the focus of The “Cults of the Head?” Project. She showed us stunning images of many of the carved heads and considered how this long-lived site fits with evidence from other watery shrines. We look forward to seeing the full analysis in due course.
The next lecture will take place on Monday 25th November, at 7.30pm. GlosArch excavation director, Neil Cathie will focus on two recent GlosArch digs. In part one he will report on this year’s highly successful excavation of a recently discovered building at Honeycombe, Miserden, Gloucestershire. In part two he will be presenting some interesting new analysis of the finds from the Roman villa site at Brookthorpe, adjacent to the M5.
As usual you can attend in person at St Andrew’s URC church hall, Montpellier St, Cheltenham GL51 1SP or you can watch live on Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent to members nearer the time. Non members can request the link by emailing mailbox@glosarch.org.uk
Lectures are free to attend, although non-members are invited to make a small donation towards the cost of running the talks – (£5 is suggested). Payment can be made by bank transfer to Gloucestershire Archaeology; Sort code 08-92-99; A/c no. 67285787, or paid in cash if attending in-person
Excavation on Cleeve Common
We are pleased to report that our application to Natural England for permission to undertake further excavation on the site of the grandstand of Cheltenham’s first race course, on the top of Cleeve Hill, has been granted. We are planning a number of further days of excavation next Spring. Watch out for details.
Autumn 2024 Newsletter
The Autumn 2024 Newsletter is now available to download. Go to Publications/Newsletter Home and choose Download Latest Newsletter.
Grant Award by Jockey Club from GC100 Fund
GlosArch is excited to announce that we have been awarded £2000 a grant of from the Gold Cup 100 Community Grant Initiative administered by the Jockey Club and Rotary Clubs of Cheltenham. The grant is to support post-excavation analysis of finds from the excavation of the Cleeve Common Racecourse grandstands and the creation of a digital 3D reconstruction of the building based on the evidence we uncover. This will be available to view via our website and on the Common.
Excavation at Miserden June and August 2024
The excavation at Honeycombe, near Miserden, north of Stroud at the site of a ruined building on a terrace in a steep sided valley is now complete for this year.
We have made good progress over the first two digs uncovering substantial parts of the building and have exposed a well-constructed doorway, floors, a stair and fireplace.
A report on the excavation will feature in the monthly lecture on 25th November.
Frocester Fund Grant 2024 – Call for applications
Applications for the 2024 Frocester Fund Grant are now closed. The successful bid(s) will be announced shortly. The grant, thanks to a bequest from past President Mr Eddie Price, is for up to £1000 towards work leading to publication of a piece of archaeological work.
The 2025 application round is now open. Applications close on 30th September 2025.
For more information and to download the application form click here
Forthcoming Activities
Winter Lectures and Summer Visits
GlosArch members can access the archive of recorded lectures by logging in to their account on the website and going to Resources>Recorded Lecture Archive.
2024-25 LECTURE SERIES
The programme for the 2024-25 lecture series, is available here. Lectures are free to members and non-members (non-members are invited to make a small donation towards the cost of running the talks – £5 is suggested). Payment can be made by bank transfer to Gloucestershire Archaeology; Sort code 08-92-99; A/c no. 67285787.
As before, the venue for in-person attendance is St Andrews URC church hall, Montpellier St, Cheltenham, GL50 1SP. The lecture will also be broadcast on Zoom. GlosArch members will receive the Zoom link automatically a few days before the lecture. Non members can request the Zoom link by emailing: mailbox@glosarch.org.uk
To get a flavour of the range of topics covered in 2023-4 click on Lectures below and follow the link.
Summer Visits 2024
The 2024 Summer visits are now complete. For reports on them please see the Autumn Newsletter, available to download by going to Publications/Newsletter Home.
If you have a suggestion for a visit in 2025, please drop me an email at mailbox@glosarch.org.uk
Fieldwork
To take part, email fieldwork@glosarch.org.uk (members only).
Excavation
Return to Honeycombe
Five further days of excavation took place at Honeycombe in August. All places were taken and we also had three members who cleaned, bagged and labelled finds on site. We made fantastic progress and have uncovered much of the two-roomed building, identifying entrances, flagstone floors, a fireplace and stair. We had some interesting finds too. Thanks to everyone who took part. We are aiming to return to the site next year. Neil Cathie will be reporting on the excavation at the November lecture.
Excavation at Honeycombe, Miserden. 9/10 and 20/21/22 June 2024.
The second excavation of 2024 took place at Miserden. A preliminary excavation in 2023 had showed substantial building remains in this quiet valley. The excavation uncovered extensive well-built walls of a two-roomed building. For more details see the fieldwork page.
Excavation on Cleeve Hill 14th-15th and 19th-20th April 2024
This excavation has been completed for 2024. For a brief report see ‘Latest News’ above.
We intend to return to the site in Spring 2025 to continue investigating the layout of this interesting site, with the aim of producing an interactive 3D visualisation of the building which will be publicly available.
Excavation at Brookthorpe, 12-13th and 17-18th November 2023
Excavation at Minsterworth, 6-8th August 2023
The excavation at Minsterworth is now complete. A short report appears in the Autumn newsletter. Neil Cathie presented a summary of the findings at the fieldwork update meeting on December 18th. A recording of this talk is available to members in the Recorded Lectures Archive page in the members’ area of the website.
Geophysics
Ground Penetrating Radar Survey at Castlemeads, Gloucester. 19th and 21st August, 2024
This activity is complete.
In collaboration with Exeter University we have undertaken a GPR survey of the features on Castlemeads, Gloucester in the area previously examined by resistivity and magnetometry. we have identified some shallow sub-surface solid structures as well as the electric cables and some other much deeper features. Further work is being considered.
Magnetometry Surveying at Castlemeads, Gloucester
This activity is now complete.
In rather wet conditions and after having to abandon the original survey due to flooding (it is on a flood plain after all) we managed to complete the magnetometry survey on a chilly, slightly damp December day.
The results show a number of underground electricity cables but also features which appear to correspond to the LIDAR images. The findings were presented at our members update meeting on 18th December.
Geophysics Training
If you are interested in receiving training on our geophysics equipment, please contact Phil Cox via: fieldwork@glosarch.org.uk as a further session can be arranged if there is demand.
Uncovering our Past Together
New Members Welcome
From students to seasoned experts, GlosArch welcomes people of all ages and experience to join us!
Benefits of becoming a member include...
Become a GlosArch Member
If you are interested in the archaeology or local history of Gloucestershire, join us, at GlosArch (Gloucestershire Archaeology), and help to discover the past.
Whatever your experience you can participate in excavations, fieldwalking, geophysical surveying, document research and historic building recording. There are lectures and site visits to attend and help and advice given on finds processing and pottery, coin and artefact identification and recording.
