Our cover feature takes us to the outskirts of Corby in Northamptonshire where, over the past decade, excavations have revealed not only the remains of a Roman villa but, more recently, an enigmatic ‘temple-mausoleum’. This latter structure later underwent a dramatic change of purpose as industrial activity flourished on the site – join us as we trace its fascinating story.

The Corby investigation was undertaken ahead of urban development, but while the continuation of construction work has meant that many rescue projects have been able to operate during Covid-19 restrictions, during the first lockdown many archaeologists found themselves unable to work. A new project, ‘Archaeology on Furlough’, found asilver lining in these challenging circumstances, however, bringing together over 100 volunteers to apply their skills to a host of illuminating research projects.

From the innovative to the aesthetic, for our third feature we immerse ourselves in the stunning surroundings of Herefordshire’s ‘Decorated’ churches – a distinctive variation of English Gothic architecture that flourished in the late 13th and 14th centuries.

Our fourth feature also focuses on ceremonial sites, though of a smaller and more contemplative type: pet cemeteries. New research tracing their evolution from the Victorian period to the present day has shed intriguing and frequently poignant light on how our relationships with domestic animals changed over time – from working animals to ‘man’s best friend’ to fully-fledged members of the family.