Stokesley & District

u3a

Archaeology

Last updated on 24th April 2026.

Status:Active, open to new members
When: On Wednesday afternoons 2:00 pm
3rd Wednesday of the month.
Venue: Stokesley Town Hall
Cost: Contact group leader to find out cost - contact details are below.

Contact Co-leaders:

Tricia Virgo and David Chadwick

Our approach is non-academic, but will involve exploring the archaeology around us in the North East as well as finding out about archaeology sites elsewhere in the UK and globally. No experience is necessary, just the desire to learn something new.

From April to September, we visit sites and museums of interest within reasonable travelling distance, and so on occasion this may be a different day and time, to fit in with the venue's requirements. From October to March, we will meet in the Brunton Room in the Town Hall at 2pm, for a talk or presentation on a relevant subject. It is hoped that members will come forward to share their knowledge or experiences at one of these meetings.

2026 started with the 2nd half of our winter programme of talks:

In January 2026 we had an entertaining and informative talk by Mik Lisowsky of York University on the subject of Zooarchaeology. Together with a team of his students we were shown and handled bones determining diseases, butchery and cooking methods evidenced by the remains.

In February Dr Emma Watson of Tees Archaeology gave a passionate talk on prehistoric sites in North Yorkshire. Explaining that the north had far more sites than the south of England she outlined her mission to gain recognition for the wealth of archaeology on our doorstep and a will to properly investigate sites which are without parallel elsewhere. She has invited us to contact her to arrange a site visits, which we hope to do in 2027

In March one of our members David Chadwick gave a talk on Neolithic Orkney, outlining the rise and fall of these early farmers, and the changes in their society over 1000 years from 3700 to 2500 BC.

Our summer programme started in March with a tour of the Hartlepool Maritime museum and a guided visit to HMS Trincomalee. The rain held off so we were able to explore the open air dock as well as a range of period shops and offices and two excellent museums covering the Trincomalee itself and underwater archaeology.

The rest of our programme up to September is as follows:

20th May

A twin site visit with Guides; Beadlam Roman Villa, outside Helmsley and the Medieval frescoes of Pickering Church. Details will be circulated shortly.

17th June

A visit to Scarborough castle, building on a talk given by one of our members in 2025.

15th July

Following on the 200 year celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Passenger Railway and our visit to the museum at Shildon, we visit the Hopetown museum.

19th August

We will meet at the George Hotel, Piercebridge for an expert introduction to the Roman crossing point and the fort in which the town sits. If time permits there is the additional option of a visit Egglestone Abbey.

16th September

The summer programme finishes on with an introduction to the Saxon Leake Church, it’s context in the early mediaeval landscape.

The winter programme for 2026 will be developed as the summer progresses. As usual suggestions and contributions from members are most welcome.

Photos: S&D u3a members

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Photo: S&D u3a members

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