Welcome to the WEAG website

Programme of Talks

The next talk of the 2024-2025 season will be 9th June 2025 and will be given by Ken Crowe who will talk about the updated Victoria County History project for Essex. The VCH is one of the longest running research project : some VCH volumes were published over a century ago, while others are now in progress or planned for the future.

The meeting will be via Zoom meeting, Members will have received the details for joining the meeting but the meeting is open to non-members who are welcome. Contact the email membership@weag.org.uk to obtain the Zoom details.

Experience Weekends

Why not consider an Archaeology Experience Weekend for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

The Experience Weekends are aimed at introducing people to archaeology. No previous experience is required. You will be working under supervision on a live site.

WEAG ran its 2024 Archaeology Experience Weekends at Copped Hall on four weekends in July and August and these were a great success.

WEAG is planning to run three more Archaeology Experience Weekends on the 12th/13th July, 19th/20th July and the 26th/27th July 2025. To express interest in these weekends please contact: coppedhalldigs@weag.org.uk

WEAG Members Dig

The WEAG Members dig for 2025 has been organised for the 23th August to the 31st August 2025. Additional days may be organised for specific purposes e.g. tool cleaning etc.

Finds Processing at Copped Hall

If people are willing, we will also carry out finds processing at Copped Hall. This will take place on Sundays, please drop us an email at coppedhalldigs@weag.org.uk if you are interested in taking part.


Membership Renewal 1st January 2025

Membership was due for renewal on the 1st January 2025.

If you have not yet renewed your membership, please do so as soon as possible.


Publication of a book on Old Copped Hall

WEAG, on behalf of the Copped Hall Trust Archaeological Project, in collaboration with the Copped Hall Trust have published a book by Norah Carlin about the Old Copped Hall.

Norah has revisited the original documents in her research to reach the real story. Her ability to read medieval Latin came in very handy for this research. Norah is a retired history lecturer and a member of WEAG. The book covers the people who lived at the Old Copped Hall and their lives from 1258 until its demolition in the 1750s. Old Copped Hall was replaced by the nearby Georgian Mansion which is currently being restored.

Old Copped Hall was owned and/or lived in by some interesting people, including King Henry VIII and his daughters Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. The book is about 160 pages with about 60 illustrations.

The paperback book is available at £20 per copy, p&p is extra, if appropriate. (The RPI is £25)


Past Activities

A summary and photographs of the activities can be found in the Copped Hall Archaeology 2018 Report.

The Experience Weekend of 2017 provided an introduction to Geophysics techniques – a report on the Geophysics techniques and results is available to view.

A report on the Experience Weekends and Field Schools in 2018 is available to view.

Archaeology Experience Weekend – gift to friend

Are you looking for a different sort of gift for a friend or relative? Then why not treat them to an Archaeology Experience Weekend in July for only £75. Vouchers are now available. To purchase them please contact our Treasurer.