Gamlingay History Society   Gamlingay in old Photos

Hello, and welcome to the Gamlingay Archaeology Group (GamArch) website.

We are a group of archaeology enthusiasts with a strong interest in the archaeology and history of Gamlingay and neighbouring parishes.

What do we do and what are we about? In a nutshell, we explore and research our local area, share our discoveries and have fun doing it. Our practical work is mostly centred on excavating and fieldwalking. Fieldwalking involves walking across recently ploughed land looking for artifacts.

There’s a strong social side to GamArch – we’re an affable bunch of people and we like visiting sites, viewing ongoing excavations, visiting museums, attending exhibitions etc. We also staff stalls at shows and events, write pieces for the Gamlingay Gazette, the website and other outlets, process finds from our practical work, research archives, undertake projects as individuals…all sorts of things really.

Although our efforts are voluntary we do approach things in a methodical and organised way. Yes, archaeology is fun and a deeply satisfying thing to get into but there are obligations and standards that need to be kept to. GamArch follows standard archaeological protocols and strives to meet best practice guidelines whatever group activity we undertake. Our activities are covered by insurance and all of our practical fieldwork is reported to the County Historic Environment Team.

Gamlingay is perhaps best known archaeologically for its excavated Anglo-Saxon past but there’s much more going on archaeologically in and around Gamlingay than just ‘the Anglo-Saxons’ and there are undoubtedly further discoveries to be made.

So do join us if you’ve a mind to, the more the merrier! If you only want to have an occasional go at practical fieldwork such as digging or fieldwalking you needn’t become a full member, our insurance will cover you for the times you might spend with us on the practical work. Further info about membership and our committee can be found below.

As you can see from our logo above we are affiliated to Jigsaw Cambridgeshire who assist local history and archaeological societies in historical research, excavation, artifact identification, training, equipment and professional advice.

Membership/Committee Info

For enquiries of a general nature please contact the Secretary. If you have any comments about the website, how to improve it, any problems with it or would like to contribute an article, simply contact our webmaster Ken Abbott. Please contact Ken via the Secretary, address is above. Thanks!