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Minerva Community Project

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Minerva Community Project

The Minerva Community Project aims at promoting the Roman shrine to the goddess Minerva - a Grade I listed building, in Handbridge, Chester.

This heritage is a wonderful catalyst for our local community and beyond.

19/03/2026

Quinquatrus! Salve, Minerva Dea!

03/02/2026

Look at the very first Hidden Gem on this list!

Chester, England, is a city packed with history, charm, and exciting places to explore.While its famous Roman walls and stunning cathedral draw plenty of visitors, Chester is also home to many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.From secret gardens and unique attractions to historic spots off the b...

12/12/2025

Minerva made her appearance at this year's Saturnalia parade in Chester!
(Photo by Jon Wainwright)

19/03/2025

Salve! Minerva, macte esto!

05/03/2025

18/10/2024

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/reconnecting-roman-britain

Buy tickets for Reconnecting Roman Britain's upcoming events. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

11/10/2024

A big thank you to local resident Mike Graham who has cleaned heritage signs around the City Walls, Roman Gardens and amphitheatre, as well as our Minerva Panel in Edgar's Field Park. Working in partnership with the CWaC Your Streets team 👏 Great job Mike, thank you! Find out about their toolkit 👉 http://cwac.co/abDuD

06/07/2024

Register your interest in participating in a future archaeological project in Handbridge - possibly involving Channel 4’s Great British Dig!

https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFzBnKSu1ZeB_Oold6AXfBq_OK-DUJH_w3iRHI8bBsmU_hCg/formResponse?pli=1

Or use the QR code in the flier below

A form to register your interest in future archaeological work in and around Handbridge

06/07/2024

Great event “Discover Roman Handbridge” today St Mary's Handbridge Centre!
Many thanks to Dr Caroline Pudney University of Chester, Liz Montgomery Grosvenor Museum and the Portable Antiquities Scheme team (PAS) for their fantastic talks.
Use the QR code on the leaflet to register your interest in a future archaeological project in Handbridge.

05/07/2024

Reminder! Tomorrow!

17/06/2024

We're thrilled to help publicise and support this FREE EVENT at St Mary's Handbridge Centre on Saturday 6th July
Discover Roman Handbridge!
Have a chance to register your interest in future archaeological projects in Handbridge!

04/06/2024

Be a Goddess for a Day!

Would anyone like to “be Minerva” at the Handbridge Summer Fair, Sunday 23rd June?

You would simply wear/carry the Minerva puppet and walk around the fair. It is lightweight.

Please let Julie Rowlands (secretary of Handbridge Community Association) know. Or message us.

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National Lottery Heritage Funding for the Project!

From January 2020 we have secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

With this money, we aim to:

encourage the conservation of the Roman Minerva Shrine in Edgar’s Field Park, Handbridge, Chester;

raise awareness and community pride in this Grade 1 Listed Scheduled Monument, the only in situ Roman Shrine in Western Europe;

work with the relevant organisations and authorities to promote the monument to the wider public.

We will do this by working with local primary and secondary schools, PTAs, community groups, businesses, the Council’s Locality Officers, the museum, the University of Chester, and community groups.

We will commission a new geological conservation survey.

We will request additional signage for the Shrine on the city side to bring new visitors to the site, and encourage more footfall within Handbridge.

We will raise awareness within the Community via school projects, a survey assessing local knowledge, and a community celebration event. We are collaborating with the University of Chester to organise a community field work event around the site. This will tell a new story of the site, with different local voices, and a new improved interpretation to enhance the appreciation and understanding of the monument.

We will also improve the tourist information, redesigning the information pamphlet (currently out of print), ensure the Shrine is mentioned in tourist guides and tours, ensure the information about the Shrine is updated on the Chester Visitors Centre website.

We will borrow and display historical artefacts including the Minerva replica statue (currently in storage and unseen) in a pop-up museum to be situated in the city centre market (a regenerated social space).

We will ensure our community celebration event is part of the Chester Heritage Festival 2020.

We are also investigating the recording of the shrine via photogrammetry and digital archiving.

We will involve and work with our established contacts in Cheshire West and Chester Council, the Grosvenor Museum, the University of Chester, local archaeologists and heritage organisations, and Storyhouse Chester. We will also work with our local community groups, including Friends of Edgar’s Field, Handbridge History Group, local schools, residents groups and the local business community.

We will be spending funding on:

• A full geological conservation, preservation survey and digital recording

• Equipping and insuring a pop-up community art space and museum

• Promotion, advertising, necessary consumables

• Contribution towards setting up a collaborative community field work activity (with History Faculty, University of Chester)

• Community Volunteer support (eg transport, subsistence, expenses)

• Launch event including Public Liability insurance

Evaluation will be via:

• online and paper-based surveys targeted at the community

• statistical analysis from engagement on social media and website

• feedback from project partners

• photographic evidence (eg er****on of new signs, community celebrations)

• the conservation report

19/03/2026

03/02/2026

12/12/2025

19/03/2025

05/03/2025

18/10/2024

11/10/2024

06/07/2024

06/07/2024

05/07/2024

17/06/2024

04/06/2024

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National Lottery Heritage Funding for the Project!