Weston Museum invites families to take part in community Big Dig at Ellenborough Park East

Families are invited to experience archaeology first-hand this summer as Weston Museum hosts a series of community excavation sessions at Ellenborough Park East.

Children can enjoy getting hands-on in professionally supervised test pits, learning genuine archaeological techniques including excavation, sieving and identifying finds with support from experienced staff and volunteers. The event offers a fun and engaging introduction to archaeology while encouraging families to discover more about Weston-super-Mare's rich local heritage.

The Big Dig will take place across three days, with one session exclusively for members of Rusty Club, Weston Museum's Young Archaeologists' Club, and two days open to local families. Tickets cost £7.50 and can be booked online via TicketSource.

The site has previously hosted successful community digs, including in 2023, uncovering a variety of fascinating artefacts and providing an excellent opportunity for family learning. One of the most memorable discoveries was a donkey shoe, believed to have been lost during the Victorian period by one of the beach donkeys making their way home after a day on the seafront.

Councillor John Crockford-Hawley, Chair of Weston-super-Mare Town Council's Amenities, Culture and Leisure Committee, said: "Weston Museum continues to provide exciting opportunities for people of all ages to engage with our town's fascinating history.

The Big Dig is a wonderful example of how learning can be brought to life through hands-on experiences, encouraging curiosity, discovery and a greater appreciation of our local heritage. We are delighted to once again offer local families the chance to take part in this unique community event and experience archaeology in such an accessible and enjoyable way."

Katherine Bell, Learning Officer at Weston Museum, said: "Learning about the process of an archaeological dig is great fun and getting muddy whilst doing it really brings it all to life. Children can have a go at genuine archaeological techniques, using trowels and sieves to search for finds before identifying them with expert help."

The family dig sessions will take place on Wednesday 29 July and Thursday 30 July, with sessions available at:

•            10.30am – 11.30am

•             12.00pm – 1.00pm

•             1.30pm – 2.30pm

Places are limited and advance booking is essential.

Tickets can be booked online via TicketSource.

For further information about Weston Museum, please visit www.westonmuseum.org, telephone 01934 621028, or email katherine.bell@wsm-tc.gov.uk.