diff --git a/R/epidemic_class.R b/R/epidemic_class.R
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7fd9b3ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/epidemic_class.R
@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+# Helper function
+#' Get model arguments as a list, including default arguments
+#'
+#' @description
+#' Internal function intended to be called inside a call to `model_*_*()` to
+#' capture values passed to function arguments, including default values.
+#' @param f A function or a function name as a string.
+#'
+#' @keywords internal
+.get_model_parameters <- function(f) {
+  # NOTE: match.call() does not capture default values
+  # get values in a frame one level up
+  mget(
+    names(formals(f)),
+    sys.frame(sys.nframe() - 1L)
+  )
+}
+
+#' Constructor for the `<epidemic>` class
+#'
+#' @param model_fn A string giving the name of the model function.
+#' @param data A `<data.frame>` of the model output. Must have four columns
+#' named "time", "demography_group", "compartment", and value.
+#' @param parameters A named list of model parameters used in a model run. These
+#' may of atomic or more complex types, such as `<intervention>`, or NULL for
+#' unused, optional arguments.
+#' @param hash A string for the SHA-1 remote hash associated with the installed
+#' version of `{epidemics}`. For named release versions, this is a version
+#' number with semantic meaning such as `"0.1.0"`. For versions installed from
+#' the remote, this is the latest commit hash on the installation branch.
+#' This is typically auto-generated by the external constructor [epidemic()].
+#'
+#' @return An object of the `<epidemic>` class.
+#' @noRd
+new_epidemic <- function(model_fn, data, parameters, hash) {
+  # create and return epidemic class
+  # input checking in external constructor
+  x <- list(
+    model_fn = model_fn,
+    hash = hash,
+    data = data,
+    parameters = parameters
+  )
+  class(x) <- c(class, "epidemic")
+
+  x
+}
+
+#' Create an `<epidemic>` object
+#'
+#' @description
+#' A simple class to hold the output of epidemic models along with the model
+#' parameters and any composable elements, such as interventions, applied.
+#'
+#' @param model_fn A string giving the name of the model function.
+#' @param data A `<data.frame>` of the model output. Must have four columns
+#' named "time", "demography_group", "compartment", and value.
+#' @param parameters A named list of model parameters used in a model run. These
+#' may of atomic or more complex types, such as `<intervention>`, or NULL for
+#' unused, optional arguments.
+#'
+#' @name epidemic_class
+#' @rdname epidemic_class
+#'
+#' @examples
+#' # Run a model to get an <epidemic> class output
+#' uk_population <- population(
+#'   name = "UK population",
+#'   contact_matrix = matrix(1),
+#'   demography_vector = 67e6,
+#'   initial_conditions = matrix(
+#'     c(0.9999, 0.0001, 0, 0, 0),
+#'     nrow = 1, ncol = 5L
+#'   )
+#' )
+#'
+#' # run epidemic simulation with no vaccination or intervention
+#' output <- model_default_cpp(
+#'   population = uk_population
+#' )
+#'
+#' output
+#'
+#' # access parameters
+#' get_parameter(output, "transmissibility")
+#' @export
+epidemic <- function(model_fn, data, parameters) {
+  # check input
+  checkmate::assert_string(model_fn)
+  checkmate::assert_data_frame(
+    data,
+    any.missing = FALSE, min.rows = 1, ncols = 4
+  )
+  # allow some missing values as interventions and vaccinations may be
+  # NULL by default
+  # DO NOT expect unique values as rates and NULLs may repeat
+  checkmate::assert_list(
+    parameters,
+    any.missing = TRUE, all.missing = FALSE, min.len = 1L,
+    names = "unique"
+  )
+
+  # get package version or hash
+  # NOTE: is NULL when installed from local version
+  hash <- utils::packageDescription("epidemics")[["RemoteSha"]]
+
+  # return epidemic class
+  new_epidemic(model_fn, data, parameters, hash)
+}
+
+#' Validate <epidemic> class objects
+#'
+#' @name validate_epidemic
+#' @rdname validate_epidemic
+#'
+#' @param x An `<epidemic>` object.
+#'
+#' @return Invisibly returns the input `x`. Called primarily for its
+#' input checking as a validator.
+#' @keywords internal
+validate_epidemic <- function(x) {
+  # check for class and class invariants
+  stopifnot(
+    "`x` should be of class <epidemic>" =
+      (is_epidemic(x)),
+    "<epidemic> does not contain the correct attributes" =
+      (c(
+        "data", "parameters"
+      ) %in% attributes(x)$names)
+  )
+
+  # check epidemic class members
+  checkmate::assert_string(x[["model_fn"]])
+  checkmate::assert_data_frame(
+    x[["data"]],
+    any.missing = FALSE, min.rows = 1, ncols = 4
+  )
+  # allow some missing values as interventions and vaccinations may be
+  # NULL by default
+  # DO NOT expect unique values as rates and NULLs may repeat
+  checkmate::assert_list(
+    x[["parameters"]],
+    any.missing = TRUE, all.missing = FALSE, min.len = 1L,
+    names = "unique"
+  )
+  checkmate::assert_string(x[["hash"]], null.ok = TRUE)
+
+  # invisibly return x
+  invisible(x)
+}
+
+#' Check whether an object is an `<epidemic>`
+#'
+#' @param x An object to be checked as belonging to the `<epidemic>` class.
+#'
+#' @name epidemic
+#' @rdname epidemic
+#' @export
+is_epidemic <- function(x) {
+  inherits(x, "epidemic")
+}
+
+#' Print an object of the `<epidemic>` class
+#'
+#' @name print_epidemic
+#' @rdname print_epidemic
+#'
+#' @param x An `<epidemic>` class object.
+#' @param ... Other parameters passed to [print()].
+#' @return Invisibly returns the object `x`. Called for printing side-effects.
+#' @export
+print.epidemic <- function(x, ...) {
+  format(x, ...)
+}
+
+#' Format an `<epidemic>` object
+#'
+#' @param x A `<epidemic>` object.
+#' @param ... Other arguments passed to [format()].
+#'
+#' @return Invisibly returns the [`<epidemic>`] object `x`.
+#' Called for printing side-effects.
+#' @keywords internal
+#' @noRd
+format.epidemic <- function(x, ...) {
+  validate_epidemic(x)
+
+  # NOTE: WORK IN PROGRESS
+  model_fn <- x[["model_fn"]]
+  model_fn <- glue::glue("Model function: {model_fn}")
+
+  compartments <- x[["parameters"]][["compartments"]]
+  compartments <- glue::glue_collapse(
+    glue::double_quote(compartments),
+    sep = ", "
+  )
+  compartments <- glue::glue("Compartments: {compartments}")
+  hash <- x[["hash"]]
+  if (is.null(hash)) {
+    hash <- "Local version"
+  }
+  hash <- glue::glue("{{epidemics}} version: {hash}")
+
+  # header
+  header <- "Head of model data:"
+  writeLines(
+    c(
+      "<epidemic>",
+      model_fn,
+      compartments,
+      hash,
+      header
+    )
+  )
+
+  print(head(x[["data"]]))
+
+  invisible(x)
+}
+
+# NOTE: an as.epidemic() method was considered and suspended pending questions
+# around how to ensure sensible entries for the model function name and the hash
+# as ideally it should NOT be possible for users to provide or modify these
+# to guard against errors.
diff --git a/man/dot-get_model_parameters.Rd b/man/dot-get_model_parameters.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..89af6985
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/dot-get_model_parameters.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/epidemic_class.R
+\name{.get_model_parameters}
+\alias{.get_model_parameters}
+\title{Get model arguments as a list, including default arguments}
+\usage{
+.get_model_parameters(f)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{f}{A function or a function name as a string.}
+}
+\description{
+Internal function intended to be called inside a call to \verb{model_*_*()} to
+capture values passed to function arguments, including default values.
+}
+\keyword{internal}
diff --git a/man/epidemic.Rd b/man/epidemic.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e0993f0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/epidemic.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/epidemic_class.R
+\name{epidemic}
+\alias{epidemic}
+\alias{is_epidemic}
+\title{Check whether an object is an \verb{<epidemic>}}
+\usage{
+is_epidemic(x)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{x}{An object to be checked as belonging to the \verb{<epidemic>} class.}
+}
+\description{
+Check whether an object is an \verb{<epidemic>}
+}
diff --git a/man/epidemic_class.Rd b/man/epidemic_class.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0b997e8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/epidemic_class.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/epidemic_class.R
+\name{epidemic_class}
+\alias{epidemic_class}
+\alias{epidemic}
+\title{Create an \verb{<epidemic>} object}
+\usage{
+epidemic(model_fn, data, parameters)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{model_fn}{A string giving the name of the model function.}
+
+\item{data}{A \verb{<data.frame>} of the model output. Must have four columns
+named "time", "demography_group", "compartment", and value.}
+
+\item{parameters}{A named list of model parameters used in a model run. These
+may of atomic or more complex types, such as \verb{<intervention>}, or NULL for
+unused, optional arguments.}
+}
+\description{
+A simple class to hold the output of epidemic models along with the model
+parameters and any composable elements, such as interventions, applied.
+}
+\examples{
+# Run a model to get an <epidemic> class output
+uk_population <- population(
+  name = "UK population",
+  contact_matrix = matrix(1),
+  demography_vector = 67e6,
+  initial_conditions = matrix(
+    c(0.9999, 0.0001, 0, 0, 0),
+    nrow = 1, ncol = 5L
+  )
+)
+
+# run epidemic simulation with no vaccination or intervention
+output <- model_default_cpp(
+  population = uk_population
+)
+
+output
+
+# access parameters
+get_parameter(output, "transmissibility")
+}
diff --git a/man/print_epidemic.Rd b/man/print_epidemic.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7dc4b902
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/print_epidemic.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/epidemic_class.R
+\name{print_epidemic}
+\alias{print_epidemic}
+\alias{print.epidemic}
+\title{Print an object of the \verb{<epidemic>} class}
+\usage{
+\method{print}{epidemic}(x, ...)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{x}{An \verb{<epidemic>} class object.}
+
+\item{...}{Other parameters passed to \code{\link[=print]{print()}}.}
+}
+\value{
+Invisibly returns the object \code{x}. Called for printing side-effects.
+}
+\description{
+Print an object of the \verb{<epidemic>} class
+}
diff --git a/man/validate_epidemic.Rd b/man/validate_epidemic.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8ca87b92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/validate_epidemic.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/epidemic_class.R
+\name{validate_epidemic}
+\alias{validate_epidemic}
+\title{Validate \if{html}{\out{<epidemic>}} class objects}
+\usage{
+validate_epidemic(x)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{x}{An \verb{<epidemic>} object.}
+}
+\value{
+Invisibly returns the input \code{x}. Called primarily for its
+input checking as a validator.
+}
+\description{
+Validate \if{html}{\out{<epidemic>}} class objects
+}
+\keyword{internal}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/epidemic_class.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/epidemic_class.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4ec6eed6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/epidemic_class.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# <epidemic> class basic expectations
+
+    Code
+      output
+    Output
+      <epidemic>
+      Model function: model_default_cpp
+      Compartments: "susceptible", "exposed", "infectious", "recovered", "vaccinated"
+      {epidemics} version: Local version
+      Head of model data:
+        time demography_group compartment    value
+      1    0           [0,20) susceptible 14797810
+      2    0          [20,40) susceptible 16524649
+      3    0              40+ susceptible 28958263
+      4    0           [0,20)     exposed        0
+      5    0          [20,40)     exposed        0
+      6    0              40+     exposed        0
+