Free Entry
By appointment and guided tours. Find out more below.
Address:
Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HR
The Wrest Park Archaeological Collections Store safeguards a vast collection of historical treasures: the archaeological collections and paper-based archives from English Heritage's guardianship sites across the East and West Midlands.
Our collection represents the full sweep of English history, ranging from prehistoric artifacts unearthed at sites like Grimes Graves to architectural material from post-war Britain. Crucially, the store houses a significant portion of the material recovered from the Roman city of Wroxeter (Viroconium Cornoviorum). Within our storage, you will find everything from bulk excavation material and monumental architectural stonework to thousands of small, unique archaeological finds.
Before You Go
The collections can be accessed by researchers by appointment. Please email Abigail Howard at WrestParkCollectionsStore@english-heritage.org.uk to book an appointment.
Join our collections team on guided tours of the Archaeological Collections Store.
Discover a treasure trove of unique and special objects spanning 2,000 years of England's history.
Tours will be held on:
- Monday 20 April 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 18 May 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 1 June 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 15 June 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 6 July 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 20 July 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 3 August 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 17 August 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 7 September 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 21 September 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 5 October 2026 - 11am and 1pm
- Monday 19 October 2026 - 11am and 1pm
These are objects not normally on display, and form around a third of English Heritage's total stored collection. This year the tours will feature objects from Apsley House and Rufford Abbey.
Tours take place at 11am and 1pm on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, April - October (excluding bank holidays). Tours are suitable for children ages 12 and up.
Tours are included with your admission at Wrest Park and are free for members. Booking can be done on arrival for the tours and you can book your site admission below on the event dates.
Videos from the Archeological Store
Discover some of the treasures in Wrest Park Archaeological Store with these videos filmed there.
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Orphan blue plaques part one
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Orphan blue plaques part two
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Columbia Market statues
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Goodrich Castle's paddles
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Prehistoric antler pick
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Norman Sword
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Thetford Priory Sculptures
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Wroxeter's Roman pots
More Archaeology Stores to Visit
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Temple Cloud Archaeology Store
Temple Cloud Archaeology Store, Somerset holds the extensive archaeological collections and paper based archives from English Heritage guardianship sites from the South West of England.
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Visit Helmsley Archaeology Store
Helmsley Archaeology Store, near York, holds the extensive archaeological collections and paper based archives from English Heritage guardianship sites from the North of England.