Events for 2026
January
Willow Pattern Ceramics Exhibition Visit
Saturday 24th January | 11am
Spode Museum, Stoke-on-Trent
The visit to view the Willow Pattern exhibition at the Spode Museum will also an include the opportunity to visit the museum store, which should be very interesting. The address of the museum is Spode Works, Elenora St, Stoke on Trent ST4 1QD, & there are various parking options in Stoke, including a car park on Elenora St. We'll meet in the entrance of the museum at 11.00, but then it will probably be best to be flexible: the store will only accommodate a small number at one time, and another organisation is visiting at the same time. So we can split up, with some visiting the Willow Pattern exhibition while others tour the stores, or whatever works best on the day. There is a very pleasant cafe in the museum.
February
'The Chinmney in the Field' Exhibition
Begining late February
Stone Heritage Centre
The society has been privilged to be able to have a display of finds showcasing the excavation in 'Chimney Field' aka Old Hall Field, Hilderstone, at the Stone Heritage Centre. The centre is located in the old Fire Station in Newcastle Street, Stone. It is part of the "Story of Stone" exhibition the centre is putting on. The Heritage Centre is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00am to 4:00pm.
March
Pugin After Dark Festival
Sunday 1st March | 11am to 6pm
Alton, Staffs.
The society is planning to attend the Sunday of this two day festival at Alton. Details of meeting time etc. will be forwarded in due course.
April
Staffordshire Archaeology Day
Saturday 18th April | 10:30am to 5pm
The Potteries Museum, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
The society's annual Archaeology Day where guest speakers will give presentations relating to recent archaeological investigations in Staffordshire and the surrounding Counties. The event is co-hosted by SoTMAS and the Potteries Museum. More information on the programme of speakers will be released as they are confirmed. The society has a dedicated Facebook page where the latest news can be found.
May
Society Get Together & Picnic Lunch
Sunday 24th May | 1pm
Chimney Field Excavation Site, Hilderstone
The society will be again hold a get together and picnic lunch at the "Chimney Field" excavation site in Hilderstone. The site will be open from 10am for anyone wishing to come early to see the site, though everyone will assemble for lunch at 1pm.
June
Cheadle Guided Walk
Saturday 27th June | 11am
Tape St Car Park
In the interests of members health, with the high temperatures forecast, this event has been cancelled
The society is planning a guided walk around the 'Chapels & Churches, Pubs and Police Stations' of old Cheadle on Saturday 27th June. The meeting place is in the main Tape St car park, ST10 1ER at 11.00 by the memorial to the animals of WW1. The walk will be on surfaced pavements etc, & last about 1 1/2 hrs, & we can then have something to eat (Lynn recommends the Summerhouse Cafe, & there's also a Wetherspoons). We're leaving St Giles's Church for the afternoon, so that people can take their own time in its splendours.
July
"Meet the Archaeologists"
Saturday 25th July | 11am-4pm
Stone Heritage Centre
The Society's contribution to the CBAs Festival of Archaeology is a "Meet the Archaeologists" event at the Stone Heritage Centre. With the Potteries Museum undergoing re-development the society is taking the oppotunity of an invitation to have an event at the Stone History Centre. This will be an opportunity for the residents of Stone and its visitors to meet and talk with members of the Society about the Society's excavation at Hilderstone. This will be a great oppotunity for the society to promote itself and its work.
The Society will be putting on an exhibition of the archaeological investigations at Hilderstone, with finds from the dig for visitors to examine. The exhibition will include details of the research into the Manor of Hilderstone, and it is hoped that some of the video diaries will be available to view. Members will be present to talk to visitors about the excavation, how archaeological investigations are carried out, as well as what it is possible to learn from the finds etc.
Members are invited to come along and view the display and join in the event. Aparently there is a Viking event also taking place in Stone on that day, so why not make a day of it!
September
Archaeology Open Day
Sunday 27th September | 11am-3:30pm
Chimney Field Excavation Site, Hilderstone
The society's annual Open Day will take place on Sunday 27th September. The event will take place at the "Chimney Field" excavation in Hall Lane, Hilderstone. The excavation will be open to visitors to see the progress we have made in 2026. On display will be information relating to the history of the site and the Manor of Hilderstone as well as a range of finds from this, and other, excavations.
October
Annual General Meeting
Saturday 24th October | 2:00pm
The Brampton Museum
The society's Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 24th October, at the Barampton Museum, in Newcastle. Details of the activity which will follow the AGM will be released closer to the date.
Fieldwork, Post Excavation & Research Sessions
Post Excavation, Research & Archive Sessions
Unless stated, meetings take place on the second Saturday of the month. PLEASE note that meetings will start at 1:30pm.
Newcastle Fire Station Directions
As a result of the development work and temporary closure of the Potteries Museum, the society's Saturday meetings will take place at Newcastle Community Fire Station
Knutton Lane
Newcastle-under-Lyme
ST5 2SL
Parking is accessed via the entrance in Silverdale Road.
Though the sessions are timed to begin at 1:30pm, any specific activity included in the list of dates below will begin at 2pm. The sessions are informal and people are able to 'drop in' and get involved in the activities or undertake some research (or drop by for a chat). The structure of the afternoon is continually evolving to include a diverse and variable range of activities including, though not always all of, the following:
- post excavation work on the finds from Hilderstone;
- research;
- training/workshops;
- digitising the archive;
- talks/presentations.
Meeting Dates
Saturday 10th January | 1:30pm
Saturday 14th February | 1:30pm
inc. an introduction to lithographing in the pottery industry
Saturday 14th March | 1:30pm
Saturday 11th April | 1:30pm
inc. a presentation on Cheshire salt mining
Saturday 9th May | 1:30pm
inc. a finds drawing workshop
Saturday 13th June | 1:30pm
inc. a finds photography workshop
Saturday 11th July | 1:30pm
Saturday 8th August | 1:30pm
Saturday 12th September | 1:30pm
Saturday 10th October | 1:30pm
Saturday 14th November | 1:30pm
Saturday 5th December | 1:30pm
The excavation at Hilderstone will re-open on Sunday 12th April where the site will be tided of the effects of Winter and preparations made for the coming seasons digging. Excavation will be fully underway on Sunday 19th April, and is the date recommended for members new to digging.
As usual we will be on site from 10am to 4pm, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday of each week during the season. The digging season normally closes on the last Sunday of October.
To catch up on how the excavation has progressed so far, click the button below to visit the Chimney Field Excavation pages where you can read the Dig Diaries of the previous years investigations.
Resistivity Survey and Training
Saturday 25th April | 11am
Dove Valley Centre
The society has been invited by Dr Ian Parker Heath to conduct a Resistivity Survey at a site in the Dove Valley, which is being studied by the Tudor Farming Interpretation Group. We are offering this as a training opportunty for members who wish to know more about conducting this form of geophysical survey. The training will cover:
- Setting a grid for the site;
- Locating the squares for surveying;
- Setting up the resistivity equipment;
- The methods used for recording the results;
- How we progress over the survey area;
- How the data are processed;
- How the results are interpreted.