Upcoming Events
1st October 2026: Singleton Women’s Institute lecture: The Chilmington Green Archaeology Project: Bringing the Past…Together!
In person lecture with Community Archaeologist Becky Haslam, hosted by the Singleton Women’s Institute on the results of the Chilmington Green Archaeology Project by Community Archaeologist Becky Haslam.
The Community Cabin, Unit 1 Chilmington Avenue, TN23 8AU.
Chilmington Archaeology and History Volunteer Research Group: running until January 2027
The Chilmington Green Archaeology & History Research Group meet every last Tuesday of the month in the Community Cabin on Chilmington Avenue, Chilmington, TN23 8AU, from 7pm to 8.30pm. A great opportunity to meet like-minded people from your local area! Drop in if you would like to find out more or get involved!
The Community Cabin, Unit 1 Chilmington Avenue, TN23 8AU.
Past Events
Bringing Chilmington’s past together
From mammoths and Iron Age warriors to Roman pottery and wartime memories, the Chilmington Green Community Archaeology Project has taken local archaeology into schools, community venues, museums, woodland and beyond. Here are some of the events, workshops, talks and hands-on activities we have enjoyed along the way.
2026
Bringing the Past…Together!
8th September 2026
The Maidstone Area Archaeology Group hosted a lecture by Community Archaeologist Becky Haslam, exploring the results of the Chilmington Green Archaeology Project and bringing together the many different strands of Chilmington’s story.
Archaeology at Pilgrims Hospices, Ashford
7th September 2026
We took Chilmington’s archaeology to residents, visitors and staff at Pilgrims Hospices in Ashford for a journey through thousands of years of local history. A talk and artefact-handling session explored the area from prehistory right through to the Second World War.
Bringing the Past…Together!
7th September 2026
The Woodchurch Local Society hosted Community Archaeologist Becky Haslam, who gave an evening lecture on the results of the Chilmington Green Archaeology Project, with a focus on Brisley Farm and the Second World War.
Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council Big Lunch
12th July 2026
Our pop-up museum returned to the Big Lunch, giving visitors the chance to get close to Chilmington’s archaeology. This year we showcased new discoveries, with a particular focus on the remarkable sites at Brisley Farm and Westhawk Farm.
Lights, Camera, Archaeology! Final Filming Day with Ashford College
30th June 2026
Ashford College media students returned to site for their final day of filming, putting the finishing touches to documentaries inspired by the archaeology and history of Chilmington.
Behind the Scenes with Ashford College Media Students
11th June 2026
We welcomed Ashford EKC College media students and their teacher for a site walkover and tour. The visit gave the students a closer look at the landscape and archaeology they were exploring in their Chilmington-inspired documentary projects.
Digging into the Past with Ashford Scouts
29th April 2026
Ashford Scouts joined us in the Community Cabin for an energetic introduction to Chilmington’s past, from prehistory and the Iron Age warrior burials to Roman Chilmington. The session mixed archaeology with plenty of hands-on detective work: a treasure hunt and artefact quiz, a sandbox excavation where pottery sherds were excavated and sorted into types, and a chance to make and decorate thumb pots and coil pots in clay.
Monty the Mammoth Came to Chilmington!
2nd April 2026
Chilmington Green Day Nursery travelled back to the Ice Age with Monty the Mammoth. Children learned about prehistoric Chilmington through a lively sing-and-dance-along session…archaeology with considerably more stomping than usual!
Meet the Archaeologist at EKC College
25th and 30th March 2026
We set up in the student lounge at EKC College for two informal ‘Meet the Archaeologist’ sessions, introducing students to archaeology, the Chilmington project and the stories that can be uncovered from the landscape around them.
2025
Romans and Saxons at Chilmington Green Primary School
16th October 2025
Year 4 travelled back to Roman and Anglo-Saxon Chilmington in a school workshop exploring how the local area changed across this fascinating period.
Chilmington’s Story with Ashford Archaeological & Historical Society
15th September 2025
Community Archaeologist Becky Haslam presented an overview of Chilmington’s archaeology and history, from prehistory to the 20th century. The talk brought together research by the Chilmington Archaeology & History Research Group and offered a whistle-stop tour through thousands of years of local stories.
Into the Woods: Coleman’s Kitchen Survey
6th September 2025
The volunteer research team headed outdoors to investigate the historically important Coleman’s Kitchen Wood, building on earlier survey work by Wessex Archaeology. Volunteers recorded trees and woodland character to explore how patterns of woodland management might relate to the earthworks beneath. A specially developed open-access web application helped with recording in the field, creating a resource that could be built upon during future woodland surveys.
Hands-on Archaeology at Singleton Nursing Home
18th August 2025
Residents at Singleton Nursing Home joined us for a journey through Chilmington’s archaeology, from prehistory to the Second World War. The talk was designed as a multi-sensory session, with artefacts passed around throughout so that visually impaired residents could explore the past through touch as well as through the stories behind the objects.
Great Chart Big Lunch Pop-Up Museum
13th July 2025
Our pop-up museum landed at the Great Chart Big Lunch with an array of finds from the local area, including prehistoric flintwork and Roman pottery. Archaeology joined a packed family day of activities and gave visitors a chance to discover just how much history lies beneath the local landscape.
Chilmington in Wartime at Ashford Museum
12th July 2025
We launched our first Ashford Museum exhibition, Chilmington in Wartime, with a mini-lecture series and the chance to meet members of the Chilmington Archaeology & History Volunteer Research Team. Visitors could discover the team’s research into Chilmington during wartime and find out more about the wider community archaeology project.
Salute to the 1940s!
5th July 2025
We joined our friends at Ashford Museum at Newtown Green’s celebration of the 1940s, marking the anniversaries of VE and VJ Day. Our Chilmington in Wartime pop-up shared local Second World War research alongside live music, dancing, historic vehicles, children’s entertainment and even a reproduction Spitfire!
Romans, Saxons and Role Play at Kingsnorth Primary School
24th May 2025
Year 4 at Kingsnorth Primary School explored Roman and Anglo-Saxon Chilmington through an interactive presentation, handling collections and activities. We focused especially on the transition between Roman and Anglo-Saxon Britain, asking the children to think about the different ways change might have happened and then act out their preferred scenario through role play.
VE Day at Ashford Gateway
8th May 2025
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, AOC Archaeology and the Chilmington Archaeology & History Research Group brought Chilmington in Wartime to Ashford Gateway. The pop-up exhibition shared moving local stories and research uncovered by project volunteers, bringing wartime Chilmington back into the heart of the community.
Chilmington in Wartime at Singleton Environment Centre
26th April 2025
Our pop-up museum came to Singleton Environment Centre for a day devoted to Chilmington in Wartime. A series of short lectures explored different aspects of the project’s wartime research, while the displays offered local residents an accessible way to discover the history being uncovered close to home.
Research Group Graffiti Survey
28th January 2025
The Chilmington Volunteer Research Group combined desk-based detective work back in the Community Cabin with a little field investigation, when the team recorded a probable Second World War graffito in St Mary’s Church.
2024
The Research Group Gets Started
26th November 2024
The Chilmington Archaeology & History Research Group held its first meeting in the Community Cabin and began work on its first research theme: Chilmington in Wartime. It was the start of a collaborative project bringing local people together to investigate the stories hidden in Chilmington’s archives, buildings and landscape…helped along by hot drinks and nibbles.
Chilmington Green Timeline Detectives
29th October 2024
During the October half term, our younger archaeologists became Timeline Detectives in the Community Cabin. Children learned how archaeological sites form, why archaeologists excavate and what makes Chilmington Green so special, before earning their very own Timeline Detective Certificates.
Community Project Launch at Ashford Museum
26th October 2024
Our launch day at Ashford Museum’s learning centre introduced visitors to the archaeology already known at Chilmington and to the questions the new community project hoped to explore. Pop-up displays brought the story to life, while children got creative with activities inspired by the nationally important Iron Age warrior burials at Brisley Farm.
Autumn Lectures and Reception
26th October 2024
Later that day, AOC’s community archaeology team was joined by archaeological specialists for an informal series of talks exploring Chilmington’s ancient past. The reception gave visitors a chance to hear from experts, ask questions and meet other people curious about the archaeology beneath their local landscape.
Prehistoric Chilmington Goes to School
7th October 2024
We visited Kingsnorth and Chilmington Green primary schools for four workshops on prehistoric Chilmington. Interactive presentations, handling collections and activities gave pupils the chance to investigate the local past and experience some of the ways archaeologists turn objects and evidence into stories.
Follow us on our socials to keep up to date with the latest developments.
#Chilmington
Volunteering Opportunities
We’re looking for armchair archaeologists to help us with our research. All you need is a computer and internet access to get involved at a time, place and pace that works for you. Our volunteers are also invited to monthly socials, where you can chat with the rest of the team and compare notes! We are particularly looking for volunteers from the Chilmington development to join us in learning about their new home. Our research themes are:
For those who like to get out and about, between now and February 2027, we’ll be undertaking the following fieldwork to supplement our research themes that will require volunteer assistance:
- Gravestone and Protection Mark Survey
- Ancient Woodland Survey
- World War II Heritage Survey
We have opportunities to suite everyone (adults, young people and children) on a one-off, occasional and more regular basis. No experience is necessary- a community archaeologist will be on hand to provide training and answer questions.
Contact us to express your interest and to find an opportunity that is right for you.
