Uncovering Roman Carlisle Summer Dig 2025

Aim

Raising funds for a 2025 Summer dig for the Uncovering Roman Carlisle archaeology project. Every pound is being matched by a mystery donor!

Uncovering Roman Carlisle began in 2017 when Carlisle Cricket Club were looking to build a new pavilion. They called in local archaeology firm Wardell Armstrong to do a routine dig to check the area. Incredibly, that first trench immediately revealed a hypocaust - one of the signs of a high status Roman building! A volunteer team was put together to expand the dig. Volunteers have dug at this site at least twice a year since then, covering a slightly different area each time. The building which is being revealed is looking to be the largest building ever uncovered on Hadrian’s Wall. There is also a plethora of evidence which suggests the building may have had Imperial connections. Covering a period where we know the Emperor Severus came to Britain to inspect Hadrian’s Wall, is this where the Emperor stayed? The clues are mounting up and showing Carlisle in a new light ……

Not only is the dig good for Carlisle but it is an incredibly positive experience for all those involved. In an independent survey in 2021 95% of volunteers reported improved wellbeing and 69% reported they gained skills for future employment, study, or volunteering 

We need to raise £100,000 to put on the Summer dig. A mystery donor has offered to match every pound we raise up to £50,000. We’ve raised just over £32,000 so far so are looking to raise an additional £17,000 for the dig to go ahead 

Uncovering Roman Carlisle has been able to offer over 10,000 volunteering spaces to date. A Summer dig will allow us to offer an extra 850 volunteering opportunities. The project encourages visits from schools and has so far supported 2,185 school aged children to connect with Carlisle’s incredible Roman Heritage. With your help we can increase that by 1,500 children

Each time we dig we uncover more of Carlisle’s amazing heritage and learn more about the emerging monumental complex and it’s surroundings. Please consider supporting this very worthy cause and encourage others to do the same. Every little bit counts. Thank you 

Pete Savin has produced this video from our Autumn 2024 dig. Enjoy!

CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO

(Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVxmBr9OFKQ&ab_channel=RomanHistoryWalks)

This project successfully funded on 31st May 2025