Events

2026 programme

Yate and District Archaeology Group normally meets every month (except July and August) at Poole Court, Yate BS37 5PP, just north of Bristol. Meetings are generally on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and start at 7.30pm with tea and coffee from 7.00pm.

Every year, we are proud to host knowledgeable speakers giving lectures on a huge range of topics related to all aspects of archaeology, both locally and from further afield. In the summer, instead of talks, we arrange trips to interesting sites in the region.

Talks typically cover local archaeological sites and discoveries, as well as topics of broader relevance. There is something to suit all interests.

Everyone is welcome - come along and bring a friend! You don't need to be a member to attend, but it will save you money (find out about membership). You don't have to book a seat in advance - just turn up!

Wednesday 21st January 2026

Tony Roberts - Archaeoscan, highlights of 2025

Tony is a regular speaker to the group. It is always an entertaining evening, hearing what he has been getting up to during the previous year

Saxon face in Gloucester Cathedral crypt © John W. Schulze

Wednesday 18th February 2026

Simon Draper - Anglo-Saxon Gloucestershire

Another popular speaker, telling us about what we can glean of Anglo-Saxon life in Gloucestershire and how the Anglo-Saxons' mark can still be seen in the landscape

Wednesday 18th March 2026

Professor Tom James - Rediscovering the lost medieval royal palace at Clarendon, Wiltshire

Emeritus Professor Tom James, a renowned expert on the medieval and early modern period, tells us about the marvellous palace of Clarendon that was abandoned and left to decay in the 17th century

Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Clarendon Castle © Jim Linwood

Wednesday 15th April 2026

Cat Lodge - Archaeological secrets of the National Trust

A welcome visit from the National Trust regional archaeologist for the South West, giving a perspective on the archaeology that the National Trust is looking after.

Wednesday 20th May 2026

Toby Jones - Newport medieval ship

Toby, curator of the project, will tell us about the medieval ship found during development work in Newport in 2002.

Newport medieval ship in the foundations of the Riverfront Arts Centre, Newport © Owain

17th June 2026

Gemma Bond - From post-Roman back to the Iron Age

Gemma gives us an update on the complex twists and turns in our understanding of Crickley Hill

Wednesday 8th July - Summer outing

Julie Bassett will lead us on A Walking Tour of Saxon Bath, in the early evening. The walk takes about two hours with regular stops. Meeting place to be confirmed nearer the date.

You need to book a place on this tour. Please email yadag2@gmail.com to do this, and receive final details of the trip.

Bath Abbey were King Edgar the Peacemaker was crowned in 973 CE
© GarfieldJAustin

Work ongoing at Gully Cave © Danielle Shreve

Wednesday 29th July - Summer outing

Prof Danille Shreve will be arranging a guided visit to the Gully Caves in Ebbor Gorge. We will need to meet near Cheddar in the late morning. Details to be confirmed nearer the time. From there, it is about a 20 minute walk down the gorge and up the other side, on the West Mendip Way. It's a well-marked path but it has steps and is quite steep in places. Please consider whether this is a comfortable walk for you, this may be unsuitable for you if you have mobility issues.

We anticipate combining this with a visit to a Roman villa site at Westbury Sub Mendip with Andrew Buchanan arranging a guided visit in the afternoon. Following the quite energetic morning, the villa site is a flat ten/fifteen minute walk from the parking.

You need to book a place on this tour. Please email yadag2@gmail.com to do this, and receive final details of the trip. Please let us know if you would like to do both visits.

Wednesday 16th September 2026

Richard Stride - Women in ancient Sparta

Richard has extensive experience teaching about the classical world to colleges and in the wider educational environment. Here he focusses on women in the classical world, a subject that only rarely gets attention.

Wednesday 21st October 2026

Elaine Cook - Keynsham Abbey - An examination of the site's characters and events

Wednesday 18th November 2026

Rebecca Dumbleton - Summary of 2026 in South Gloucestershire

A talk, straight from the council archaeology team, on interesting archaeological discoveries/activities that happened during 2026

South Gloucestershire archaeological sites from Know your place

Wednesday 9th December 2026 - 2nd Wednesday of the month

Zilla and David Savage - Siston 2026

An update on one of our most active local archaeology projects

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse