Thank you to all the Diggers who have contributed to make Uncovering Roman Carlisle possible. The Uncovering Roman Carlisle (URC) team want to thank all those who have supported the excavations and ongoing work behind the scene. Although the site excavation has concluded so far post-excavation, and the discoveries about Carlisle’s Imperial Palace continue.

We are delighted to have been nominated by Current Archaeology for Research Project of the Year, with “Fit for an emperor? Excavating a monumental building from Roman Carlisle.” Voting is now open for the Current Archaeology Awards! If you would like to support Uncovering Roman Carlisle you can vote for our nomination, or read about us in the article on the project.

We could not continue the project without the support of public donations, grant application, and the incredible generosity from an anonymous international donor. We are still planning for and fundraising to continue future activity at the site and behind the scenes to provide opportunity for volunteers to join in. We hope to see you on site, at our talks and tours, or behind the scenes conserving the collections!

Explore Carlisle’s Roman Bathhouse

The Uncovering Roman Carlisle is an ongoing community archaeology project, exploring and exhibiting Carlisle’s Roman Bathhouse.

We are thrilled to announce from the 7th of February 2026 we will be have the opportunity to exhibit many new objects at the Where Worlds Meet exhibition at Tullie, in Carlisle.

The project grew from humble beginnings when archaeologists from then Wardell Armstrong LLP (now SLR Consulting) were commissioned by Carlisle Cricket Club to undertake an evaluation for a new Cricket Pavilion in 2017, and discovered a Roman Bathhouse, now the largest known building on Hadrian’s Wall.

Returning to the site every year since 2021, Uncovering Roman Carlisle has brought hundreds of volunteers, The Diggers, to further explore the site, study and conserve the finds, and to exhibit the discoveries to the world.

We are a registered charity (charity number: 1210701) called Uncovering Roman Carlisle, and hope to continue to provide opportunity to get stuck into Carlisle’s amazing Roman past.

How can you get involved?

There are a lot of ways to get involved, from visiting to volunteering, find out more below.

When we are active, and the site is being excavated you can find visiting times and the bookings on the Get Involved page. We release bookings in blocks and there are sometimes cancellations so roles may become available which are currently booked up. Roles will come and go depending on the phase of the project and what activity is happening, so do check back or register your interest.

  • Digging

    Digging on site, you will be working along side archaeologists to excavate and clean the site to a Roman level.

  • Wet Sieving

    Wet sieving takes place just next to the trenches, you’ll be helping to look through buckets of soil to find lost Roman artefacts; including glass beads, intaglios and other small finds.

  • Finds Washing

    Finds washing is an great opportunity to get up close with the artefacts found on site and learning how to properly take care of the artefacts.

  • Site Guide

    Meet the public, help welcome and manage visitors to the site. Show visitors around and tell them about recent activity at the dig.

Where are We?

In the heart of Carlisle, the Great Border City!

The site is located at Carlisle Cricket Club, only a few minutes walk to Carlisle City Centre, near the Hadrian’s Cycleway and next to the main road (A7) from Stanwix.

There is parking at the site on grass, and also at the nearby Sands Centre.

 

  • “The site I think has grown a real kind of following over the years, and there’s lots of different ages, I mean it’s absolutely great, and people who are just really engaged by getting in touch with the history of Carlisle in this incredibly kind of physical way, and you know, they’re here, they’re responsible for making new discoveries on a daily basis, it’s really exciting! Such a lovely thing to do. They’re all being carefully supervised by the professional archaeologists on site. It’s a professionally run dig with a lot of community. It’s just lovely!”

    Dr Alice Roberts

  • “When I first saw the paw print embedded in the tile, I could not believe it! Immediately transported back 2000 years to when the tiles were in production. I felt very emotional imagining that cat walking over the drying tile and (wondered) which other animals were in the environment around the bathhouse at the time. Really Brought the site to life.”

  • “After a few days of digging you learn to temper the anticipation, but my heart skipped a beat! … Kevin’s (Archaeological Supervisor) … had taught me to be very slow and careful. I shouted OMG many times and could not say anything else, finally I nervously handed it (the artefact) over to Kevin who smiled broadly and said, “that’s very nice.”

  • “The Intaglios were amazing finds... Amazing to think they were hiding in drains under our feet that whole time!”

  • “This is the most significant cache (of intaglios) … I have studied at all for decades… and perhaps a few more to come” - Dr Reverend Martin Hennig

  • “My son was on-site… able to witness this – a memory for him to share in years to come.”

  • “I enjoyed using the metal detector the most. I discovered a Roman Nail and a big rusty lump of metal – I think it could be a roman knife! … It’s exciting wondering what it used to be.”

A lot happens on and off the dig, and there are many things to see and do when you visit.

  • URC Talks and Presentations

    On site there will be up to date information on the excavation and finds so far.

    After the excavation, around the area will be accompanying talks and lectures.

  • Site Tours

    We will be returning to site for a mini-dig 31st of July to 3rd of August 2024. Our volunteer guides will welcome you to site so come and see what we’re up to 10am to 4.30pm!

  • School Visits

    When excavations are underway, we can support a tour of the site along with activities to learn more about the Bathhouse and Roman Britain. Please get in contact with us to organise a school visit via the schools page when an excavation is planned.

Contact Us

Get in touch! Reach out to us with any questions, suggestions, or stories you might have about the fascinating Carlisle Roman Bathhouse and the Uncovering Roman Carlisle Project.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the many people and organisations who have made the Uncovering Roman Carlisle Project what it is today. With over 3000+ volunteer days given by hundreds of volunteers we can never thank everyone enough.

In-kind support has been given from local firms including, but not limited to; Storey Contracting, R H Irving, Avon construction, Arco, Commendium, and Wickes. Many thanks also go to; Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Liverpool Photogrammetry Team, Rev. Dr M. Henig, the Dr’s Mather, and HW Partnership. Much of the photography we use here is by; Anna Giecco, Stuart Walker, Peter Savin, J Openshaw.

The continuing archaeological research and community excavation and exhibitions have been delivered by a partnership of Carlisle Cricket Club, Cumberland Council, Tullie, and Wardell Armstrong LLP.

Funders

We would like to thank and recognise the support of the following funders for past and current phases of the Project;