Merseyside Archaeological Society
Forthcoming Events
The next event will be one of our evening lectures.
Past Events
2026 Conference
The 2026 conference was held at the Museum of Liverpool on 3rd October 2026.
From Trenches to Tomorrows: 50 Years of Merseyside Archaeological Society, Recent Research and Excavation
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Merseyside Archaeological Society MAS) which was established as a result of the South Castle Street excavation which took place in 1976 in advance of the construction of the law courts which now occupy the site. Since then, MAS has played a significant role in archaeological research and fieldwork on Merseyside.
AIM 26 was the latest in a biennial series of conferences celebrating the work of MAS, commercial contractors and amateur researchers in Merseyside.
Full details of the day:
The 2026 conference was held at the Museum of Liverpool on 3rd October 2026.
From Trenches to Tomorrows: 50 Years of Merseyside Archaeological Society, Recent Research and Excavation
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Merseyside Archaeological Society MAS) which was established as a result of the South Castle Street excavation which took place in 1976 in advance of the construction of the law courts which now occupy the site. Since then, MAS has played a significant role in archaeological research and fieldwork on Merseyside.
AIM 26 was the latest in a biennial series of conferences celebrating the work of MAS, commercial contractors and amateur researchers in Merseyside.
Full details of the day:
| AIM26 Conference speakers |
MAS Field Trips - Summer 2026
Saturday 9th May - Deeside Walk from Connah's Quay
Saturday 6th June - Fieldtrip to Little Crosby Excavation
Saturday 11th July - 50th MAS Anniversary outing round Liverpool
Saturday 5th September - Walk around Newton-le-Willows
Saturday 9th May - Deeside Walk from Connah's Quay
Saturday 6th June - Fieldtrip to Little Crosby Excavation
Saturday 11th July - 50th MAS Anniversary outing round Liverpool
Saturday 5th September - Walk around Newton-le-Willows
MAS Field Trips - Summer 2025
Saturday 10th May - Archaeology, Local History and Historic Buildings in West Kirby
Saturday 7th June - Fieldtrip to Little Crosby and Fort Crosby
Saturday 5th July - Fieldtrip to Aspull Ring Ditch Excavations, Near Wigan
Wednesday 10th - Wednesday 17th September - Excavations at Speke Hall
Saturday 10th May - Archaeology, Local History and Historic Buildings in West Kirby
Saturday 7th June - Fieldtrip to Little Crosby and Fort Crosby
Saturday 5th July - Fieldtrip to Aspull Ring Ditch Excavations, Near Wigan
Wednesday 10th - Wednesday 17th September - Excavations at Speke Hall
2024 Conference
The 2024 conference was held at the Museum of Liverpool on 5th October 2024.
The conference featured talks about new archaeological work in Merseyside in the morning and afternoon sessions, with a handling and display session and book sales after lunch. Talks covered post medieval cemetery memorials in Liverpool, the excavations of St Mark's churchyard in Upper Duke Street, Piermaster's Green, Lunt Meadows and Norton Priory. There was a session on the Portable Activity Scheme finds from Merseyside and details about future plans for Canning quaysides and the dry docks.
The 2024 conference was held at the Museum of Liverpool on 5th October 2024.
The conference featured talks about new archaeological work in Merseyside in the morning and afternoon sessions, with a handling and display session and book sales after lunch. Talks covered post medieval cemetery memorials in Liverpool, the excavations of St Mark's churchyard in Upper Duke Street, Piermaster's Green, Lunt Meadows and Norton Priory. There was a session on the Portable Activity Scheme finds from Merseyside and details about future plans for Canning quaysides and the dry docks.
MAS Field Trips - Summer 2024
Saturday 20th April - New Brighton and Fort Perch Rock
Saturday 18th May - Pimbo and Upholland landscape
Saturday 22nd June - Wroxeter Roman city and museum and Old Oswestry Hillfort
Sunday 23rd June - Ironbridge Gorge Museums
Saturday 6th July - Eastham Country Park and Eastham village
Saturday 20th April - New Brighton and Fort Perch Rock
Saturday 18th May - Pimbo and Upholland landscape
Saturday 22nd June - Wroxeter Roman city and museum and Old Oswestry Hillfort
Sunday 23rd June - Ironbridge Gorge Museums
Saturday 6th July - Eastham Country Park and Eastham village
MAS Field Trips - Summer 2023
Sunday 2nd April - Bolton Museum Egyptian displays
Saturday 13th May - Childwall All Saints churchyard
Saturday 3rd June - Ness Gardens
Saturday 15th July - Loggerheads Country Park
Sunday 3rd September - Birkenhead Park and Birkenhead Priory
Sunday 2nd April - Bolton Museum Egyptian displays
Saturday 13th May - Childwall All Saints churchyard
Saturday 3rd June - Ness Gardens
Saturday 15th July - Loggerheads Country Park
Sunday 3rd September - Birkenhead Park and Birkenhead Priory
MAS Field Trips - Summer 2022
Saturday 14th May - Hale village, Dungeon saltworks etc.
Saturday 11th June - Newton-le-Willows motte, mill, battlefields
Saturday 9th July - Hilbre Islands
Thursday 11th August evening - Formby Second World War and Cold War defences
2022 Conference
The long-awaited (postponed from 2020 due to covid restrictions!) Archaeology in Merseyside (AIM 2022) conference.
The 2022 conference was held at the Museum of Liverpool on 2nd April 2022.
The conference featured talks about new archaeological work in Merseyside in the morning and afternoon sessions, with a handling and display session and book sales after lunch. Topics ranged from prehistoric period rock art at Calderstones and footprints and environmental evidence on the beach at Formby, to post-medieval pottery production in and around Liverpool.
MAS Field trips - Summer 2021
Monday 21st June - Guided walk of Crosby beach
Tuesday 13th July - Site visit to Piermaster's House dig, Liverpool
Tuesday 17th August - Guided walk to Hilbre
Saturday 25th September - Site visit to Norton Priory Excavation
Saturday 14th May - Hale village, Dungeon saltworks etc.
Saturday 11th June - Newton-le-Willows motte, mill, battlefields
Saturday 9th July - Hilbre Islands
Thursday 11th August evening - Formby Second World War and Cold War defences
2022 Conference
The long-awaited (postponed from 2020 due to covid restrictions!) Archaeology in Merseyside (AIM 2022) conference.
The 2022 conference was held at the Museum of Liverpool on 2nd April 2022.
The conference featured talks about new archaeological work in Merseyside in the morning and afternoon sessions, with a handling and display session and book sales after lunch. Topics ranged from prehistoric period rock art at Calderstones and footprints and environmental evidence on the beach at Formby, to post-medieval pottery production in and around Liverpool.
MAS Field trips - Summer 2021
Monday 21st June - Guided walk of Crosby beach
Tuesday 13th July - Site visit to Piermaster's House dig, Liverpool
Tuesday 17th August - Guided walk to Hilbre
Saturday 25th September - Site visit to Norton Priory Excavation
MAS Field Trips - Summer 2019
Saturday 13th July 10am. Field trip on foot. Venue: Widnes and Runcorn
Meet at 10:00am in the cafe at the Catalyst museum. We will visit Spike Island and then walk across the Jubilee Bridge to Runcorn Old Town for lunch (various options). Afterwards investigate the Bridgewater Canal and lock flight down to the Ship Canal. Walk back over the bridge or return to Liverpool on bus or train from Runcorn. There is a car park at the Catalyst museum and it can also be reached by bus from Liverpool (walk from Victoria Road) or by train to Runcorn (with a walk over the pedestrian bridge). Trip in cooperation with Merseyside Industrial Heritage Society - booking is not required.
Saturday 24th August 10am. Venue: Hilbre Island
Details: Roy Forshaw will guide a walk of Hilbre Island which has evidence for Prehistoric, Roman, medieval, Post-medieval andVictorian settlement and industry.
Details of meeting points etc TBC, please contact Mark Adams in advance.
Saturday 21st September . Venue: The Calderstones
Details: A preview visit to the Calderstones.
MAS Field Trips - Summer 2018
Saturday June 9th - An invitation to Castleshaw with Norman Redhead
The Castleshaw Valley (near Delph, Oldham) has archaeology from all periods including a Roman fort, medieval iron smelting and post-medieval textile industry.
Weekend of 14/15th July - South Cumbria
On Saturday there was a walk in the area around the village of Orton (near Tebay off M6 Junction 38) looking at Iron Age remains, a stone circle and a Roman road amongst other features. On Sunday there was a walk in the valley at Smardale (10km east of Tebay) following an old railway to see prehistoric settlements, medieval fields, a drover’s road and 19th and 20th century industry.
Saturday August 18th - Norton Priory and Halton Castle
Following the recent talks to the society by Lynn Smith and Sarah Cattell, there was an opportunity for an enhanced visit to the newly rebuilt Norton Priory Museum and a chance to see Halton Castle with a fabulous view of the landscape. There was also a medieval event with re-enactors demonstrating crafts, fighting techniques, fashions etc. throughout the day.
Saturday 13th July 10am. Field trip on foot. Venue: Widnes and Runcorn
Meet at 10:00am in the cafe at the Catalyst museum. We will visit Spike Island and then walk across the Jubilee Bridge to Runcorn Old Town for lunch (various options). Afterwards investigate the Bridgewater Canal and lock flight down to the Ship Canal. Walk back over the bridge or return to Liverpool on bus or train from Runcorn. There is a car park at the Catalyst museum and it can also be reached by bus from Liverpool (walk from Victoria Road) or by train to Runcorn (with a walk over the pedestrian bridge). Trip in cooperation with Merseyside Industrial Heritage Society - booking is not required.
Saturday 24th August 10am. Venue: Hilbre Island
Details: Roy Forshaw will guide a walk of Hilbre Island which has evidence for Prehistoric, Roman, medieval, Post-medieval andVictorian settlement and industry.
Details of meeting points etc TBC, please contact Mark Adams in advance.
Saturday 21st September . Venue: The Calderstones
Details: A preview visit to the Calderstones.
MAS Field Trips - Summer 2018
Saturday June 9th - An invitation to Castleshaw with Norman Redhead
The Castleshaw Valley (near Delph, Oldham) has archaeology from all periods including a Roman fort, medieval iron smelting and post-medieval textile industry.
Weekend of 14/15th July - South Cumbria
On Saturday there was a walk in the area around the village of Orton (near Tebay off M6 Junction 38) looking at Iron Age remains, a stone circle and a Roman road amongst other features. On Sunday there was a walk in the valley at Smardale (10km east of Tebay) following an old railway to see prehistoric settlements, medieval fields, a drover’s road and 19th and 20th century industry.
Saturday August 18th - Norton Priory and Halton Castle
Following the recent talks to the society by Lynn Smith and Sarah Cattell, there was an opportunity for an enhanced visit to the newly rebuilt Norton Priory Museum and a chance to see Halton Castle with a fabulous view of the landscape. There was also a medieval event with re-enactors demonstrating crafts, fighting techniques, fashions etc. throughout the day.
2018 Conference
Merseyside Archaeological Society jointly with Museum of Liverpool held a one day conference in the Museum of Liverpool at Pier Head, Liverpool on 13th October 2018. A series of talks covered recent archaeological discoveries in Merseyside ranging from an 8000 years old Mesolithic hunter-gatherer site to 20th century defence structures. There was also be a handling session and book sale.
| MAS Conference 13th October 2018 - Programme |
MAS Conference October 2016
| MAS Conference 2016 - Programme |
| MAS Conference 2016 - Abstracts and biographies |
The Society hosted a conference celebrating its 40th Anniversary, "Past Forward", on 8th and 9th October 2016 at the Museum of Liverpool.
Talks at the conference were recorded and have been uploaded to YouTube:
Getting Involved: Community Archaeology at National Museums Liverpool - Liz Stewart
Making Merseyside: Metropolitan identity to localism in an era of public archaeology - Gill Chitty
Merseyside’s Archaeology: a short history of archaeology policies and practice in North West England - Norman Redhead
The Old Hutt, Yew Tree Farm and South Castle Street: What those sites taught us - Mark Adams
Community archaeology and a new direction for researching landscapes - Jamie Quartermaine
The MAS, the ASM, the SMR and the HER – recording Merseyside’s Archaeology over the last 40 years - Ben Croxford
From interest to influence: How to be an advocate for archaeology -
Rob Lennox
Talks at the conference were recorded and have been uploaded to YouTube:
Getting Involved: Community Archaeology at National Museums Liverpool - Liz Stewart
Making Merseyside: Metropolitan identity to localism in an era of public archaeology - Gill Chitty
Merseyside’s Archaeology: a short history of archaeology policies and practice in North West England - Norman Redhead
The Old Hutt, Yew Tree Farm and South Castle Street: What those sites taught us - Mark Adams
Community archaeology and a new direction for researching landscapes - Jamie Quartermaine
The MAS, the ASM, the SMR and the HER – recording Merseyside’s Archaeology over the last 40 years - Ben Croxford
From interest to influence: How to be an advocate for archaeology -
Rob Lennox