Events

11.30am to 12.15am tour of the ruins (weather permitting) with Lynn Smith Archaeology and Collections Director

Hear how Norton Priory became Europe’s most excavated medieval monastic site as we take a journey through the various spaces once used by the Augustinian canons. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Suitable for 7 years and over.

Booking required – limited 15 places available. Discover Norton event – free with admission.

2.00pm to 2.45pm tour of galleries with Lynn Smith Archaeology and Collections Director

Hear about how the excavations at Norton Priory allowed the site to transform from monastery to museum through a tour of the objects on display.

Booking required – limited 15 places available. Discover Norton event – free with admission.

1.30 to 2.00pm

Dr Carla Burrell, Norton Priory’s osteoarchaeologist has been studying the human bone collection over a number of years. She will give us an update on our research, including some significant scientific ‘firsts’ in her talk “From Shovel to Science: tracing the journey of the Norton Priory skeletons”.

2.15pm to 2.45pm

Dr Rob Philpott has been excavating with the team at Norton Priory since 2018. He will bring us right up to date on our more recent findings, including the 2025 season of excavation in his talk “Norton Priory: the archaeological story continues”.

2.45 to 3pm Questions

Learn the basics of pruning your fruit trees then get some practical experience using the Norton Priory Museum & Gardens orchards, with guidance and advice from an expert tutor. The session will be led by Katie Tonge from Heathfield Orchards.

Katie is the former Chief Executive of the Cheshire Landscape Trust and now manages and advises on orchards across Cheshire. She helps to

A hands-on workshop to learn about grafting fruit trees from an expert tutor. Graft a couple of small apple trees to take home using Norton Priory's heritage apple varieties. The session will be led by Katie Tonge from Heathfield Orchards.

Katie is the former Chief Executive of the Cheshire Landscape Trust and now manages and advises on orchards across Cheshire. She helps to maintain the orchards at Norton Priory and worked with us to create the new Oldfield Orchard.