Are you a fan of Time Team? Have you always fancied having a go at an archaeological dig yourself? If so, you won’t want to miss the chance to join archaeologists to research, survey and excavate areas of Cassiobury Park.

Watford Museum, in partnership with the South West Herts Archaeology Society, is holding a recruitment day for budding Indiana Joneses (hopefully with slightly less daredevilry, but you never know) in July. No experience is necessary, you just need to be fascinated by local history and willing to get your hands and knees a bit grubby.

Cassiobury has a fascinating history: the earls of Essex lived in Cassiobury House for more than 250 years before, at the beginning of the 20th Century, the house was no longer used as a permanent residence and the estate began to be sold off. The eighth earl sold acres of parkland to Watford Borough Council in 1909 and 1930 for housing and the public park, and the house and estate were put up for auction in 1922. The manor house remained unsold and unlived in until it was demolished in 1927. In 1967, the castellated entrance gates to the park on Rickmansworth Road were also destroyed, to make way for a new traffic system.

Who knows what you might unearth.

  • The archaeology recruitment day is at Watford Museum, Lower High Street, Watford, on Saturday, July 4 from 10.15am. Details: 01923 232297, watfordmuseum.org.uk