Thursday 8 October 2026 at 7.30pm

The Archaeology of Leicester in 20 digs

Dr Gavin Speed , University of Leicester Archaeological Service

The Archaeology of Leicester in 20 Digs

Leicester is one of Britain’s most intensively investigated historic cities, with more than a quarter of its archaeological core excavated over the past century. These discoveries have transformed our understanding of the city’s 2,000-year history, revealing evidence for Iron Age occupation, the Roman town of Ratae Corieltauvorum, Anglo-Saxon settlement, medieval churches and cemeteries, and the remains of Richard III. Most recently, excavations in Leicester’s Market Place have uncovered Roman buildings and medieval market surfaces providing a remarkable glimpse into the long-lived commercial heart of the city.

Based on Dr Gavin Speed’s recently published book, The Archaeology of Leicester in 20 Digs, this lecture tells the story of Leicester through twenty of the city’s most significant archaeological excavations. From the Jewry Wall baths and Roman forum to the Greyfriars excavation that discovered Richard III, the Roman theatre and elite townhouses at Stibbe, and the latest investigations in the Market Place, the talk explores how each excavation has added a new chapter to Leicester’s biography and continually reshaped our understanding of the city’s past. Further details about the book can be found here: https://www.amberley-books.com/the-archaeology-of-leicester-in-20-digs.html.

Venue: On-line lecture only – zoom link to be shared