LOCAL HISTORY
Looking towards Chester House across the site of the old Roman settlement
D
o you love to discover the mysteries of ancient peoples and their lives? Have you been fascinated watching local history uncovered on telly programmes like ‘Digging for Britain’ or ‘The Great British Dig’, or even the wonderful original ‘Time Team’? If so, I have great news! Earlier this year, a new way to access our Northamptonshire heritage was revealed, and for those interested in what lies hidden below the topsoil, there’s a brand-new home for Northamptonshire Archaeology. We are lucky to have the Nene Valley running through the heart of our county. It cuts a verdant swathe connecting a variety of landscapes such as industrial estates, business and retail
There is a new home for Northamptonshire Archaeology at Chester House, placing the future protection of our local heritage in a very good place indeed writes Laura Malpas.
parks, but best of all are the publicly accessible green spaces, offering safe corridors for wildlife, and beauty and tranquillity for us. We are not the first to enjoy what the Nene has to offer, there’s evidence of occupation in the valley stretching back at least ten millennia. This watery world is rich in buried remains, some of which were excavated over the last few hundred years as the science of archaeology developed. A few of these finds found their way into local museums, and a few reports have been published, but inevitably much remains unrecorded or conserved to modern standards. The same is true across the county, there are many collections that have no secure home making access difficult.
For the latest local news visit www.nnpulse.co.uk | NN Pulse Magazine | June 2022
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