Northamptonshire Archives and Heritage Service

🏺 Missed Roman Fest? Here's a snapshot of Chester Farm's Roman past
More than 5,000 people visited Chester Farm over Roman Fest weekend, enjoying living history displays, Roman reenactments, family activities and the chance to explore one of Northamptonshire's great heritage sites.

If you couldn't make it, here's a quick look at why Chester Farm is so special.
The site forms part of the Roman town of Irchester, a Scheduled Monument occupied from the 1st to early 5th centuries AD. Archaeological investigations have revealed a thriving settlement with streets, buildings, industrial activity and religious sites, alongside evidence for earlier Iron Age occupation and the later medieval hamlet of Chester on the Water.

✨ Did you know? Irchester's development was closely linked to its position on the Roman transport network, helping to connect people, goods and ideas across the region.

Today, Chester Farm combines archaeology, history and nature, making it a fantastic place to visit whether you're interested in the Roman past or simply looking for somewhere to explore.

🔎 Learn more on the Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record:
https://her.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Designation/DNN6254

[𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 | 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱]

📍 A question for our followers

The Historic Environment Record helps make information about Northamptonshire's past accessible to everyone. Some archaeological reports include photographs of excavated human remains.
This raises an important question: should these images be freely available online, or should access be managed in some way?
Open access supports research, education and transparency. However, human remains were once living people and many feel that images of burials and skeletons should be treated with particular care and respect.

💬 What do you think?
🔹 Freely available online
🔹 Available with a content warning
🔹 Available only on request
🔹 Managed in another way

We're interested to hear your views on how archaeological information can remain accessible while treating human remains with dignity and respect.

[𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 | 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱]

📍 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱?

HERs are an important starting point for anyone interested in the archaeology, built heritage, and history of an area.

The Historic Environment Record (HER) is a helpful source of information on Northamptonshire's archaeological sites, historic buildings, landscapes and past discoveries. It brings together evidence collected over many years, helping to build a picture of how the county has changed through time.

Used by archaeologists, planners, researchers and members of the public, the HER helps inform decisions about development while making information about Northamptonshire's rich heritage accessible to everyone.

With over 170,000 records across monuments, investigations, sources, finds and designated heritage assets, the HER provides an invaluable resource for understanding and exploring our historic environment.

The HER is a great place to start if you are interest in learning about Northamptonshire's past.

🔎 Explore the Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record:

Home Northamptonshire’s Historic Environment Record

[𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 | 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱]

📍 How can metal detecting contribute to our understanding of the past?

Responsible metal detecting can make an important contribution to archaeology. Finds recorded through the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) have helped identify settlements, trace trade networks and provide insights into everyday life in the past.

Responsible detectorists always obtain the landowner's permission and report archaeological finds to their local Finds Liaison Officer (FLO), ensuring discoveries are properly recorded for future research. Some finds may also be classed as Treasure and must be reported under the Treasure Act.

Unfortunately, illegal detecting, known as nighthawking, can damage heritage assets and result in the loss of important archaeological information. For archaeologists, a find's context, - where it was found and what it was found with - is often just as valuable as the object itself.

By working with Finds Liaison Officers and following responsible detecting guidance, detectorists can help protect and enhance our understanding of the past.

[𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 | 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱]

📍 How do archaeologists investigate sites?

Archaeologists use a range of techniques to understand what survives below the ground, from non-intrusive surveys to excavations.
Excavation is perhaps the best-known method. Archaeologists carefully remove soil and record features, deposits and finds. Because excavation permanently removes archaeological evidence, detailed records are made throughout the process.
Trial trenching is often used to assess a site's archaeological potential. A series of sample trenches are excavated to determine whether significant remains survive and if further investigation is needed.
A watching brief involves an archaeologist monitoring groundworks, such as construction or landscaping. Any archaeological remains revealed during the work are recorded.
Not all archaeological investigations require digging. Geophysical survey is a non-intrusive technique that uses specialised equipment to detect buried features such as ditches, pits and walls by measuring variations in the soil.
Field walking is another non-intrusive method. Archaeologists systematically walk across ploughed fields, recording artefacts visible on the surface. Patterns in the finds can provide clues about past settlement, industry and land use.
By combining these techniques, archaeologists can build a picture of the past while helping to protect and preserve our shared heritage.

The National Tramway Museum hold a Northampton Corporation Tramways Collection. It sounds like a brilliant collection which includes Staff Records and photographs, some dating back to the Street Tramway of the late 1800s.

This photograph of the Tramways Staff was donated to them in the same collection as the Wage book. It shows that the Conductors were some of the youngest members of staff. The school leaving age in 1886 was 10, and some of the boys in the photograph were possibly only 10 years old. As perhaps their first job after leaving school, being a Conductor came with a lot of responsibility. They had to sell tickets and give the correct change. At the end of the day, if the amount taken did not match the number of tickets sold, they had to explain the discrepancy, and any missing money may have been docked from their wages.

For more information please see the following link: https://tramway.co.uk/curators-choice/history-rediscovered-northampton-corporation-tramways/

[𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 | 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱]

📍 𝑅𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝐹𝑒𝓈𝓉

🏛️ Roman Fest returns to Chester House Estate for a celebration of Northamptonshire’s Roman past. Explore living history, archaeology, reenactments, displays, talks and hands-on activities in one of the county’s most important archaeological landscapes.

The HER will be there too, so come and say hello and discover more about your local heritage.

🎟️ Free tickets available at: https://chesterhouseestate.org/whats-on/roman-fest-2026/

We look forward to seeing you there!

Roman Fest 2026 Admission to the event is FREE for the whole family to enjoy but please ensure that you book a free ticket so we can manage numbers for this very popular, previously sold out event.

[𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 | 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱]

📍The Battle of Northampton

On 10th July 1460, one of the most significant battles of the Wars of the Roses took place just south of Northampton.
The Lancastrian army, commanded by the Duke of Buckingham, occupied a strongly defended camp near Delapré Abbey, protected by ditches, earthworks and artillery. Despite these formidable defences, the battle was decided quickly. Contemporary accounts suggest that troops under Lord Grey allowed the Yorkists, led by the Earl of Warwick and supported by Edward, Earl of March, to breach the camp's defences, leading to a swift collapse of the royal army.
The consequences were dramatic. Several leading Lancastrian nobles were killed, and King Henry VI was captured, marking a major turning point in the conflict.
Today, much of the battlefield survives as open grassland, preserving the historic landscape where this decisive encounter unfolded. As a Registered Battlefield, the site is recognised for its national importance and the potential for surviving archaeological remains, including artefacts and elements of the Lancastrian defensive works.
Visitors can still experience this historic landscape using the public rights of way that cross the battlefield.

🔗 Read the full record:

https://her.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Monument/MNN10765

https://her.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Designation/DNN6578

[𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 | 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱]

Great to see the Ghosts of Industry project featured by BBC News! Massive thanks to the fantastic volunteers who have helped record all these historic ghost signs across Northamptonshire, preserving these fascinating links to our past.

Northampton volunteers record more than 60 shop 'ghost signs'

Today marks American Independence Day, commemorating the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago. Although county archives are known well as a source for genealogical studies, records can be connected to wider events and countries far away from our doorstep. For example, the family of Benjamin Franklin can be traced to Ecton, and George Washington’s to Sulgrave.

The letter pictured is from John Pilgrim to Ambrose Isted, who at that time held the manor of Ecton. Pilgrim talks as how the revolution was affecting Britain in the period of the war. He writes “Things never more a dismal aspect. You landed men alone have least cause for apprehension, your rents will fall, tis certain; what then? You will give two pence a pound for mutton, instead of five pence.” We can see the anxieties regarding the sugar and rum trades in the colonies which affected the income of those in Britain involved.

Also pictured is a booklet produced by the Archives Service (then Northamptonshire Record Office) in 1976, “America in Archives”. This was to commemorate the bi-centenary of Independence Day, and highlights some of the collections we hold with connections to the American Revolution and later immigration.

Document references: E(S)/1164, ROP/3547