Friday 5 September 2025

Come and have a dig (literally) around at the Royal Agricultural University in its 180th year!

As it celebrates its 180th anniversary year – founded in 1845 as the very first agricultural college in the English-speaking world – the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) will be opening the doors of its Cirencester campus to visitors for a special Heritage Open Day.

The institution, which was originally founded as the Royal Agricultural College and gained University status in 2013, will be open from 11am until 4pm on Saturday 13th September, as part of a free Heritage Open Days event taking place across England.

Professor Mark Horton, the RAU’s Pro Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) and a well-known archaeologist and television presenter from BBC’s Coast programme and Channel 4’s Time Team, will be holding a special archaeological dig on the campus.

Professor Horton said: “The theme for this year’s Heritage Open Days events is architecture and, since we turn 180 this year and have so much beautiful and historic architecture on our campus, we thought it would be really interesting to, literally, dig even further back!

“My colleague Professor Cassie Newland and I will be investigating the site of the Port Farm Fair, that used to be held annually in the late 18th century, as well as the site of a former botanical garden which was created by in the 1850s by James Buckman who was Professor of Geology, Botany, and Zoology at the College.

“Buckman used the botanical garden to conduct a number of botanical experiments, some of which are reported to have been mentioned in Darwin’s The Origin of Species, however he subsequently fell out with the then Principal who, when Buckman resigned, ordered the botanical garden to be destroyed!”

The dig will take place on the University’s Croquet Lawn during the course of the day and everyone – adults and accompanied children – are welcome to roll up their sleeves and join in.

At 1pm, Professor Horton will give a fascinating talk about the history of the RAU in the University’s historic Tithe Barn which dates back to the 16th century. There is no need to pre book and tea, coffee, and light refreshments will be served.

RAU staff will be on hand to take visitors on guided tours of the beautiful campus with an accessible route available for disabled access. Tours will run from the front of the main building at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, and 3pm and, again, there is no need to pre-book.

There will also be an opportunity for children to enter a special 180th anniversary colouring competition with the chance to win a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children, plus 2 bags of animal snacks) to the Cotswold Farm Park at Guiting Power, generously donated by Cotswold Farm Park.

Hot lunches will be available to buy in the University’s servery between 12 noon and 2pm with the opportunity to sit and eat your lunch in the historic Dining Room. Hot and cold drinks and light refreshments will be available to buy at the Retreat Café in the University’s Atrium building throughout the day.

Graham Pollard, Chief Operating Officer at the RAU said: “As a university, we are always open to the public but these Heritage Open Days are a great opportunity for people to visit.


“This year we are especially delighted to be able to open our doors on 13th September which is exactly 180 years to the day since the very first 25 students arrived to start their studies at the Royal Agricultural College back in 1845!

 “Although the RAU has been part of Cirencester for almost two centuries, and is rightly proud of its association with the town, many local people have never visited our campus and so we really hope they will take this opportunity to come and have a look around.”

The University’s main campus is approached from Cirencester’s Tetbury Road up a beautiful avenue of mature lime trees which leads to the front of the main building with its beautiful clock tower. The campus also has a historic Dining Hall, a beautiful Quad, a historic Tithe Barn (now the University bar), and its own Chapel.

The event is free and no booking is required. For more details, please visit https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/royal-agricultural-university-2025.html or email opendays@rau.ac.uk.