York Archaeology Training Excavation

Location: Willow House, Long Close Lane, York

Season: June 23, 2025 to August 29, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://community.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/training-digs/training-dig-school-green-2025/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
York Archaeology

Project Director:
Community Engagement Department

Project Description:

The 2024 season saw us delve beneath an unassuming patch of grass to explore an interesting parch mark that aligned with buildings marked on 19th century maps. The results were better than we could have imagined!

School Green was once the site of the Hope Street British School, which taught local pupils skills like operating the electric telegraph between 1827 and 1890. We were unsure how much of the structure survived, if any, but intact brickwork was discovered, just centimetres beneath the grass.

As the team worked through deposits associated with the school, a suite of earlier structures and surfaces were slowly exposed. The date of these is yet to be determined, but the stonework, brick and tile appears to be medieval. This will be a key focus of the 2025 season, not least because the lost medieval church of St. Peter-in-the-Willows may have occupied part of the site!

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Age: 16

Room and Board Arrangements:
Not included.