Alston AD200 Gladiators, Bones and Pies

A wonderful write-up on the event at Alston a little while ago - Alston AD200 Gladiators, Bones and Pies  - there's even a picture of me (although you do need to scroll down to near the end!)  Thanks very much!

Friend of Epiacum

One of the things I like about this line of work is the sense of continuity that sneaks up on you.  I have just become a 'Friend of Epiacum'.  In May 2010 is was lucky enough to be the Roman Army recruiter for Epic Epiacum (see blog post 27 July 2010) where over 200 local school children experienced this little known gem of a  Roman Fort.

Last year Cockfield Primary School who had been to Epic Epiacum, the year before asked me to visit their school and run a workshop.
22 May 2012 I was invited to the Launch of  the Epiacum Heritage, a volunteer run project that has come about because of the drive of Elaine Edgar

Stewart Ainsworth, of English Heritage and Time Team, has championed Epiacum for several years and told a 100-strong audience at the launch: “It is probably the best-preserved fort in the Roman Empire and a flagship for our project.” Mr Ainsworth, who is to be president of the Friends of Epiacum group, added: “Whitley Castle was at the hub of a thriving landscape and was vitally important..." (http://www.journallive.co.uk) 

The intention is to turn the site into a resource for schools and the local community.

The projects' website will be live in a few weeks at  http://www.epiacumheritage.org/  

Hopefully the project will continue to grow and grow and I wish Elaine and her fellow volunteers all the Very Best for the future.

Epic Epiacum

May saw a new venture to a new fort - Epiacum. Known locally as Whitley Castle, the fort lies on a hillside a few miles north of Alston, Cumbria and the site could well be described as the North of England's best-kept Roman secret. There have been just two recorded excavations, about 1810 a part of the bath house was exposed and in 1957/8 a trench was dug across the northern ramparts.

From the 18th to the 21st May 2010 over 200 primary school children visited the site. The living history event was organised by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in partnership with Elaine and John Edgar, the owners of Castle Nook Farm and the land where Epiacum sits.

Firstly the children 'travelled back in time' using a train from the South Tynedale Railway. After a sort walk from the halt at Kirkhaugh up to the fort the children took part in a series of activities investigating the people who have been involved in landscape around Epiacum through the years. They discovered what life was like for the Roman soldiers stationed in the fort. Paul Mercer from the North Pennines Heritage Trust explained the lifestyle of the Miner/Farmer from the 18th Century. Archaeologist, Paul Frodsham and Naturalist, Heather McCarty brought the landscape up to date.

For Elaine Edgar of Castle Nook Farm, the event was the realisation of her dream of turning her farmland steeped in history into an education and visitor centre. She said: “This will be the first time we’ve had school groups visiting the Roman fort and bastle house. We’ve still got a long way to go, but the AONB Partnership events have got everything off to a terrific start.”

"Days like these stay with children forever and can inspire a lifelong interest.” Fiona Knox, Education Officer with the North Pennines AONB Partnership