For nine years Northamptonshire Archaeology has provided a full range of services to clients both within Northamptonshire and beyond. While the midland counties remain the core area, projects have been undertaken as far away as Stornaway and Lewis in Scotland, with garden projects including the Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace, Goodwood House in Sussex, Vallery in France and at Agreda, Spain. Fieldwork evaluation, watching briefs and recording actions have been undertaken throughout the midland and southern counties and also in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk and Sussex. Under successive Senior Archaeologists, Brian Dix, Michel Audouy and currently Steve Parry, the service has expanded its range of expertise. A team of 20 permanent staff has a wide range of complementary specialist skills, with expertise in Documentary Research, Building Recording, Garden Archaeology, Geophysical Survey, Topographic Survey and Finds Analysis, as well as the more traditional fieldwork skills of fieldwalking, trial trenching and area excavation. Our clients range from individual owners and local small businesses to statutory bodies, government agencies, local authorities and national and multi-national companies, including English Heritage, The Highways Agency, English Partnerships, Coventry City Council, Hanson Aggregates and The National Trust. The scale of these projects can range from a simple watching brief on a single house development plot, taking only an hour or two, up to major infrastructure projects involving many months work and subsequent analysis.
In addition, our staff provide illustrated lectures to local archaeological societies and other groups, and Work Experience for students from local schools is arranged through Connexions (formerly Career Path). Whenever possible, site open days are held to enable the public to view the results of major excavations and there is an annual open day at the office as part of the Heritage Open Days weekend organised through Northampton Borough Council. We also contribute to the annual National Archaeology Day. Summary reports are published in annual reviews at both national and regional level, such as 'South Midlands Archaeology'. Detailed reports are submitted to the relevant regional or county journals, such as 'Northamptonshire Archaeology', the journal of the Northamptonshire Archaeological Society.