Albion Archaeology

Albion Archaeology is a professional archaeological and heritage service based in Bedford, England. It operates as a trading service of Central Bedfordshire Council, providing commercial archaeological services to private and public sector clients as well as individuals. Its services cover the full project cycle from pre-planning assessment to construction stage, working both as a collaborator within multidisciplinary teams at the early stages of the planning process and as a subcontractor on construction sites. The organisation's predecessor was the Bedfordshire Archaeology Service, established in the early 1970s. Since 1991, its offices have been located in the historic Grade I listed St Mary's Church in Bedford town centre, and it has operated under the name Albion Archaeology since 2001. The organisation has approximately 50 archaeologists and heritage professionals, capable of undertaking large complex projects while remaining small enough to ensure good communication and a client-focused approach. Based in Bedford, Albion Archaeology serves a wide geographical area and conducts archaeological work nationally. Its operations include assessment, excavation, community excavation, public outreach and school visits, and publication. The organisation has been accredited under the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists' Registered Organisation scheme since 1997 and is a member of the Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers (FAME). It also publishes a monograph series presenting the results of its investigations. Albion Archaeology's work has led to many significant discoveries, including a previously unknown large Roman roadside settlement in Cambridgeshire in 2017, and evidence of Roman British town life at Wroxeter in Shropshire. Its projects have been featured on television and in the British Museum, and it has collaborated with local institutions such as the Higgins Museum and Bedford College on exhibitions, visualisations, and community engagement.

Albion Archaeology's origins lie in the Bedfordshire County Archaeology Service, which was established in the early 1970s. The organisation's own account dates its establishment to 1972, while a homepage summary states 1974; both point to the same early-1970s founding period. The service was created to provide archaeological expertise for the county and grew into a professional unit delivering fieldwork, advice and heritage services. In 1991 the organisation moved to the historic, Grade I listed church of St Mary's in the heart of Bedford, where it has remained based. This central Bedford location gave it a base from which to cover a wide geographical area and to carry out archaeological work across the country. A significant change came in 2001, when the organisation began trading as Albion Archaeology. The rebrand reflected its development into a commercial archaeological and heritage services provider, working for private and public sector clients as well as individuals. It operates as a trading service of Central Bedfordshire Council, providing independent advice while remaining part of the local authority structure. Albion Archaeology was an early member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists registration scheme and has been accredited since 1997. It is also a member of the Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers (FAME). These accreditations and memberships underline its position within the professional archaeological sector. Over the decades the unit has built up a broad portfolio. It offers services from pre-planning assessment through to the construction phase, working both collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams and as a sub-contractor on construction sites. With a staff base of around 50, it has the capacity for large-scale and complex projects while remaining small enough for good communication and a client-focused approach. Its fieldwork has produced notable results. In 2017 it discovered a large, previously unknown Roman roadside settlement in Cambridgeshire; the discovery later featured on television and in the British Museum. Work at Wroxeter in Shropshire revealed evidence for town life in Roman Britain, including part of an unusual decorated mosaic, a possible shrine or mausoleum, a monumental roadside civic building, and hints of a nearby temple. Community excavations at Manton Lane, Bedford, revealed evidence for a Roman building. Albion Archaeology also maintains a publishing programme. Its monograph series presents the results of investigations, including Monograph 14 on Manor Farm, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, and Monograph 15 on Airfield Farm, Market Harborough. It engages in outreach and education, with a long tradition of visiting schools to give talks on prehistory, the Roman period and archaeology in general, and it collaborates with institutions such as Bedford College and The Higgins, Bedford, on visualisations, exhibitions and community projects. More than 50 years after its founding, it continues to describe itself as committed to professionalism and to putting customers at the heart of its work.

• 2026

  Exploring Bedfordshire's Kilns exhibition at The Higgins, Bedford; recruitment for Operations Manager and Archaeological Manager.

• 2025

  Monograph 15 published; community excavations at Manton Lane, Bedford.

• 2024

  Monograph 14 published; Wroxeter mosaic and Roman town evidence reported.

• 2017

  Discovered a large, previously unknown Roman roadside settlement in Cambridgeshire.

• 2001

  Began trading as Albion Archaeology.

• 1997

  Accredited under the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists registration scheme.

• 1991

  Moved to the Grade I listed church of St Mary's in Bedford.

• 1972

  Bedfordshire County Archaeology Service established (homepage summary states 1974).

A council-owned commercial archaeological unit offering independent advice and a client-focused, full-cycle heritage service, large enough for complex projects yet small enough for good communication.

• Pre-planning archaeological assessment

  Heritage services from pre-planning assessment through to the construction phase.

• Archaeological evaluation and excavation

  Fieldwork including evaluations and excavations for private and public sector clients.

• Community excavations and outreach

  Support for community groups, school visits and public engagement.

• Albion Archaeology monograph series

  Published monographs presenting the results of investigations.

1. 1Albion Archaeology homepagealbionarchaeology.co.uk
2. 2Latest News — Albion Archaeologyalbionarchaeology.co.uk
3. 3About Us — Albion Archaeologyalbionarchaeology.co.uk
4. 4Success Stories — Albion Archaeologyalbionarchaeology.co.uk
5. 5Albion Archaeolgy — Wikidatawikidata.org