DIG: An Archaeological Adventure

DIG: An Archaeological Adventure is an educational resource in York, England. Operated by York Archaeology, the centre is housed in the former St Saviour's Church, a 15th-century building repurposed in the 1990s as an archaeological education centre. DIG offers an immersive learning environment where visitors engage in simulated excavations and artefact analysis across four historical periods: Roman, Viking, medieval and Victorian. Using excavation tools, participants explore replica and authentic artefacts, supported by multimedia displays that explain archaeological methods and historical contexts. The site lies within a deeply stratified urban area of York, where well-preserved, waterlogged deposits have provided ideal conditions for preserving organic remains. These conditions have made the city centre a significant focus of urban archaeology in the UK. Excavations in the 20th century revealed layers of human activity, forming the foundation for both research and public engagement in archaeology. DIG is fully accessible and incorporates multi-sensory elements and communication aids to support visitors with diverse needs. The centre provides family-friendly and educational resources and encourages repeat visits through an annual pass system. As part of York Archaeology's public archaeology programme, DIG forms a cultural network alongside other heritage sites such as the JORVIK Viking Centre and Barley Hall.

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St Saviour's Church, York

St Saviour's Church, on St Saviourgate in York, also known as St Saviour in the Marsh (ecclesia sancti salvatoris in Marisco) is a Grade II* listed former parish church in the Church of England in York.

Église Site remarquable

St Saviourgate

St Saviourgate is a historic street in the city of York. St Saviour's Church was built here in the 11th-century, and the street was first mentioned in 1175, as "Ketmongergate", street of the flesh sellers.

Quartier

Central Methodist Church, York

The Central Methodist Church is a Grade II* listed building in the city centre of York in England. The church lies on St Saviourgate. It was constructed in 1840, as the Centenary Chapel, marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first Methodist societies. The building was designed by James Simpson in a classical style, with an Ionic portico. It consists of a basement and two stories above. To its rear, he built vestries, classrooms, band rooms, and a house for a caretaker. In 1861, the buildings to the rear were extended, to provide more classroom space. They burned down in 1863, and though they were rebuilt, they again burned down, and were again replaced in 1872. The chapel was extended in 1881 and 1885, the schoolrooms were extended in 1895, and two new vestries were added in 1909. In 1887, the chapel became the head of a circuit. In 1908 and 1926, it hosted meetings of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference. In 1982, its congregation merged with that of the Wesley Chapel, Priory Street, and it was then renamed as the "Central Methodist Church". The chapel can seat 1,500 worshippers in a horseshoe formation, some on oval gallery above. On the ground floor, there are original numbered box pews. The three-manual organ with 2,500 pipes was installed by John Brown in 1841 and rebuilt in 1931. Notable monuments include a sarcophagus dedicated to Joseph Agar, and a tabernacle dedicated to the Reverend David Hill, a local missionary to China. The church hosts regular services, although as of 2016 its congregation averaged only 45. It also holds Carecent breakfasts for homeless and disadvantaged people. The building provides space for some charities and voluntary groups in first floor offices. In 2016, its minister announced plans to add a new reception space, improve access for disabled people, and start offering the space as a community centre during the week. In October 2021, the church was one of 142 sites across England to receive part of a £35-million injection into the government's Culture Recovery Fund.

Charité Église

16–22 St Saviourgate

16–22 St Saviourgate is a historic terrace in the city centre of York, in England. The terrace of four houses was built in about 1740 on the south-east side of St Saviourgate. It was a high-status development, and was drawn by Nathaniel Buck in 1743, while an engraving of the terrace from 1745 also survives. Nikolaus Pevsner described it as "handsome". The houses are of varying size: 18 and 22 are three bays wide at the front, 16 is four bays wide, and 20 is six bays wide. 18 and 20 have L-shaped floor plans, although one ground floor front room of 20 St Saviourgate has more recently been incorporated into number 18. The terrace was grade II* listed in 1954. The terrace is built of orange brick with a painted stone plinth, quoins, bands and dressings, and a timber cornice and doorcases. The roof has two peaks with a valley hidden by a parapet; the front part of the roof is tiled, and the rear has pantiles. The building is three storeys high with an attic, and has five doorways at the front, the rightmost leading to a through passage. The doors and doorcases are early and variously have columns or pilasters. Most of the windows are sashes, while the dormer windows in the attic are casements. The ground floor windows have shutters. Inside number 16, there is stone flagging in the entrance hall, and dado panelling. The front ground floor room has original panelling, fireplace, frieze and cupboard doors, and the first floor rooms also have original panelling and plasterwork. Number 18 retains its original staircase and has extensive original woodwork and plasterwork. Number 22 has original cornices in many rooms, and original fireplaces and cupboard doors in the second floor and attic front rooms.

Site historique Site remarquable