Archaeological techniques and modern scientific methods allow us to re-interpret the landscape of Roman Britain, from the impact on the existing Iron Age landscape of Roman invasion, military installations, the Hadrianic frontier and the Roman army. This introduction to the archaeology of the Romano-British landscape continues with an account of the development of Roman towns, the rural economy, villas and commerce, such as pottery and metalworking. Discussion also covers religion, belief systems, and death and burial, and ends with the decline of Roman Britain. You will have the chance to handle original Roman finds and objects from recent excavations and museum collections.
Course Dates
Course details
Academic team
Course information
Who is this course for?
Our weekend courses are open to all adult learners with an interest in the subject and are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level.
Please complete any required reading before the course starts. This will allow you to fully participate and get the maximum enjoyment out of your course.
Course content
The course will allow you to understand the basic features of the Roman invasion of Britain and the range of military sites that existed, including the Hadrianic and Antonine frontiers.
You will also be able to appreciate the way that Roman towns developed and then declined and to understand the way that villas and agriculture developed along with the various types of sites that existed. The practical session where you will be able to handle various original Roman objects and appreciate the range of artefacts that archaeologist find on Roman sites is always great fun and will give you a chance to get really close to pottery, coins and other objects from recent excavation of Museum collections. By the end of the course, you will also have a clear idea about the range of Roman industries, religious practices and the end of the Roman occupation of the country and what came next.
Aims
This course aims to:
- understand the Roman occupation, settlement development, and the economy and society of Roman Britain
- comprehend the range of Roman buildings from villas to farmsteads and public buildings
to military facilities built with the province - be able to review the impact that the Roman occupation of Britain had on the development of the landscape and how much of that landscape survives
- by handling original artefacts such as pottery, coins and personal items in a practical session on the course to be able to appreciate what those items tell us about their manufacture, use, functions and the populations that used them
What to expect on this course
The course will be largely tutor led with a series of PowerPoint presentations but there will be plenty of time for discussions in all sessions. One session will be devoted to handling objects from the Roman period such as pottery and other objects from recent excavation and museum collections.
Learning outcomes
As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:
- understand the basic features of the Roman invasion of Britain and the range of military sites that existed, including the Hadrianic and Antonine frontiers
- appreciate the way that Roman towns developed and then declined
- understand the way that villas and agriculture developed and the various types of site that existed
- handle and appreciate the range of artefacts that archaeologists find on Roman sites and what they tell us about Roman living and society
- have a firm knowledge about the range of Roman industries, religious practices and the end of the Roman occupation of the country - with what came next
Each weekend course features 7 sessions (1.5 hours each) running from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime, plus regular breaks for meals and refreshments. On Saturday there’s also a longer break after lunch to relax, read or enjoy the gardens of Madingley Hall.
Course schedule and sessions
Please arrive between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. You can meet other course members in the Bar, which opens at 4.30pm. Tea and coffee-making facilities are available in the bedrooms.
Friday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:30pm to 10:00pm | Introduction Late Iron Age Britain. Caesar’s expeditions of 55-54 BC. The Invasion of AD 43. The army. Military instillations |
| 10:00pm | Terrace Bar open for informal discussion |
Saturday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Breakfast (for residents only) |
| 9:00am to 10:30am | Military sites: Forts, fortresses, camps. Hadrian’s wall and the Antonine wall. Roads and bridges |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11:00am to 12:30pm | The rise and fall of towns: Towns by size and function. Buildings with towns |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm to 4:00pm | Free time |
| 4:00pm | Tea |
| 4:30pm to 6:00pm | Villas, farmsteads and agriculture Large and small villas, farmsteads, wealth and society, mosaics and furnishings |
| 6:30pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm to 9:30pm | Practical session A practical handling session where you can handle objects from various excavations including pottery, coins, personal items and other Roman artefacts |
| 9:30pm | Terrace Bar open for informal discussion |
Sunday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Breakfast (for residents only) |
| 9:00am to 10:30am | Death, burial and religion. Industries Cremation/inhumation and religious practices including early Christianity. An exploration the trade and industries of Roman Britain |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11:00am to 12:30pm | The end of Roman Britain What happens at the end? Roman decline – Saxon migration |
| 12:45pm | Lunch |
The course ends after lunch.
Madingley Hall: an immersive experience
Teaching and included meals take place at Madingley Hall, just 4 miles from the centre of Cambridge. A beautiful 16th-century Tudor hall, set in 8 acres of landscaped gardens designed by Capability Brown, it's a wonderful place to soak up the atmosphere, or spend free time reading and relaxing.
Stay at Madingley Hall
For the full experience, book to stay at Madingley Hall. Rooms are comfortable, with views over the woods, gardens and courtyard. Each en-suite room has Wi-Fi, TV, phone, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Breakfast is included in the accommodation rate.
A lift gives access to two bedrooms adapted for wheelchair users. All ground floor areas can be reached once inside the building. A lift also gives access to first floor teaching rooms for those unable to use stairs. Let us know any additional requirements when booking.
Check-in is from 4.30pm and check-out is by 11.00am. Please remember to check out before your Sunday morning class starts, luggage storage facilities are available at Reception.
For more information on accommodation fees and booking options see ‘Fees and financial support’ below.
Stay nearby
If you choose to stay nearby, no problem. You’ll still be able to enjoy the grounds during the day and enjoy the award-winning cuisine in our elegant dining hall.
Meals
As a student, you'll enjoy award-winning cuisine in our elegant dining hall. Lunch and dinner are included in the course price. Lunches and Friday evening dinner are served buffet-style, while on Saturday evening, you’ll enjoy a served dinner.
Dietary requirements
If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies, please let us know when booking.
Getting to Madingley Hall
Madingley Hall is in the village of Madingley (CB23 8AQ), 4 miles west of Cambridge. It's 60 minutes from London, with excellent links to London airports. And It's easily accessible from the M11, A14 and A428.
If you're arriving in Cambridge by train you can take a taxi to Madingley Hall. Please contact Reception (by Saturday evening) to book a taxi for your return journey.
Parking
Free on-site car parking is available and we have a small number of spaces close to the Hall entrance for Blue Badge holders.
Fees
| Weekend course | Fee |
|---|---|
| Including tuition, lunches, evening meals, tea and coffee | £475 |
| Accommodation, including bed and breakfast | Fee for Friday and Saturday night |
|---|---|
| Single room (£85 per night) | £170 |
| Double or twin room: shared with another course attendee (£65 per night, per person) | £130 |
| Double or twin room: for single occupancy (£110 per night) | £220 |
Financial support
We offer a range of concessions for our weekend courses including:
- Benefits concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to recipients of a UK state benefit.
- School concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to staff who hold a contract of employment in any school or further education institution.
- Cambridge Alumni (CAMCard) concession: 10% reduction of weekend tuition fee for Cambridge University alumni, applicable to learners with confirmed alumni status of the University of Cambridge and who are CAMCard holders.
- University of Cambridge staff concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to employees who hold a contract of employment with the University or one of its Colleges.
To apply for a concession, place your booking and supply the required proof when prompted.
A concession cannot be used in conjunction with any other concessions or bursaries, apart from the PACE Open Access Bursary or the Early Bird Concession.
Please see our concessions page for further details.
Booking a weekend course
We recommend that you book early and well before the booking deadline to avoid disappointment.
To book a weekend course and accommodation click the 'Book now' button in the course details section on this page. You'll go through to our secure bookings portal where you can create an account with us, select your booking options and make payment.
Please let us know about any dietary or support requirements when booking.
Waitlist
If the course is full, the ‘Book now’ button will be replaced with ‘Add to waitlist’. Please add yourself to the waiting list and we'll send you an email if a place becomes available.
Paying for your weekend course
You can pay for your course by credit/debit card using our secure online booking system, unless otherwise arranged.
Payment options
You can pay:
- in full at the time of booking
- in 2 instalments (the first is 15% of the full fee, and the 85% balance is due 14 working days before the course starts, which will be taken automatically if your payment card is stored in our system)
All bookings made after the booking deadline must be paid in full.
Booking deadlines
Bookings close 14 working days before the start of the course.
Late bookings
If places are available, we can accept late bookings, after the booking deadline but before the course start date.
We cannot always accommodate complex dietary/allergen or other additional support requirements for any bookings received or any requirements added after the booking deadline. Please consider this if you're asking to book after the deadline and have special requirements.
Visa requirements
It's important to be aware that entering the UK as a visitor for study purposes comes with certain expectations and restrictions.
To make sure you understand the requirements, we advise you to read the in-depth information on the University’s International Students website.
If you already have immigration permission in the UK, please inform us so we are able to confirm whether this allows you to study on the Weekend Courses.
Booking terms and conditions
Before booking your course, please make sure you've read and understood our booking terms and conditions.
We are committed to helping you make the most of your learning experience. We offer a range of support to help meet individual needs. When booking, please let us know if you have any support requirements, including accessibility or mobility needs (such as building access or adapted accommodation) or teaching and learning support. The PACE Student Support Team will contact you to discuss your needs and advise on the support options available.
