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The East Midlands sits at the crossroads of some of the most significant Roman highways ever constructed in Britain. From the Fosse Way, which linked Exeter to Lincoln in a remarkably straight line, to Ermine Street, running north from London through the heart of the region, these ancient routes shaped settlement patterns that persist to this day. Historic England continues to document and protect many of these routes, which are increasingly revealed through modern technologies such as LiDAR scanning.

For local historians and archaeology enthusiasts in the East Midlands, understanding these roads provides a vital key to unlocking the region's earliest recorded past.

Nottinghamshire's identity was shaped, in many ways quite literally, by the textile trades that dominated the county's economy for centuries. From the framework knitters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to the lace manufacturers who made Nottingham internationally famous during the Victorian era, the production of textiles left a deep mark on the county's towns, villages and communities.

For anyone interested in the social and economic history of the East Midlands, the story of Nottinghamshire's textile trades offers a rich and often surprising narrative.

Scattered across the Lincolnshire countryside lie the remains of hundreds of villages that were once thriving communities during the medieval period. Known as deserted medieval villages, these sites survive today only as earthworks, crop marks and fragments of stone in ploughed fields. English Heritage and local archaeological groups have documented many of these sites, which offer remarkable insights into how ordinary people lived, worked and died in the countryside of medieval England.

Derbyshire occupies a unique place in the story of Britain's Industrial Revolution. The county's combination of fast-flowing rivers, abundant mineral resources and an enterprising population made it one of the first places in the world where mechanised factory production took root. From the cotton mills of the Derwent Valley to the lead mines of the Peak District, the physical remains of this industrial past are woven into the fabric of the county's towns, villages and landscapes.

Across the six counties of the East Midlands, community groups and local volunteers are carrying out heritage projects that are transforming the way people engage with the history on their doorsteps. From village hall exhibitions to large-scale archaeological digs, these initiatives demonstrate that the study and preservation of local history is far from the preserve of academics and professionals.