Where next...

Saturday 15th - Recruitment and Reward - Vallum Farm 11:00am to 4:00pm.  It will be nice to return to Vallum Farm and Milecastle 18.  I was there for the Heritage Open Days last year.  This time I'm with Shamus the Storyteller and Muriel the Herbalist.  There will be fun and activities for all

Rufus in Ravenglass

Last weekend I was with The Deja Crew at Ravenglass, more recruits needed for the mill that is the Roman Army.
I was on the Platform of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway  an amazing place, but as usual, didn't manage to get a photo of myself next to one of their amazing locomotives.  It's difficult to whip out a camera when you're a Roman!
They are a friendly bunch,

 ...willing to have a go...

 ...with a little training...

 ...they could even become useful troops!

We were busy, some people even came back both days, to continue the experience.  Other members of The Deja Crew were on the Station and two were at the Pennington Hotel.
The whole even was part of a month long celebration of Ravenglass and Eskdale heritage - Lives in the Landscape.  

There is an ongoing excavation of the vicus next to the fort site, just a few minutes walk south of the village, with report on their blog - Romans in Ravenglass - the excavation ends with an open day on 21st September.  There will be a local presentation in November.

A grand time was had by all who came along, thanks for making it such a fun weekend.

September looks busy...

The kids are back at school and it's looking like a busy Autumn term.

Firstly, there's an event of some kind every weekend in September.

The Deja Crew are over in Cumbria at Ravenglass as part of the 'Lives in the Landscape' celebration.  This is a month long series of events celebrating the lives, past and present, all taking place in Ravenglass and Eskdale.  As their press release says,

Find out who has walked this on this landscape before you - was it the Romans, Vikings or Wainwright enthusiasts? Have you ever pondered who pulls the pints in pub, runs the post office and village shop or farms the land? Maybe wondered who lives in the castle on hill and how a narrow-gauge railway ended up in the Western Lake District?

That is our living landscape, shaped by people from the past and the present and the custodians of some of the finest landscapes, coast and heritage in England.  The community of Ravenglass and Eskdale offer inspiration, relaxation, and contemplation as they open the valley for a month long celebration of their lives in this rugged and beautiful landscape. 

Victor the Veteran will be there, moving around the village between the Pennington Hotel, The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and the Site of the Fort of Glannoventa - could be translated as the "Market-by-the-Shore"; although some think it's called Itunocelum.  Archaeologists are on site for a month-long exploration, and they will be blogging - Romans in Ravenglass.

What I need to know...

image from the article - ALSTON 220AD: Gladiators, Bones and Pies - http://www.foodlinkcumbria.org.uk

...is this becoming some kind of a trend - this was July, on the South Tynedale Railway and now appearing on the Ravenglass and Eskdale - I see some interesting images on the way!

Then,
15th September - a welcome return to Vallum Farm and Milecastle 18 on Hadrian's Wall for a Heritage Open Day.

21st September - another new venue, Walby Farm Park - almost on top of the Wall between Milescatles 62 and 63.

28th/29th September - maybe another Roman at Bede's World - watch this space...

Add to this
  Discovery Visits to Housesteads and 'Meet a Roman Soldier' at Chesters Roman Fort, Famil Man workshops still to be booked in and it looks like September will be loads of fun!