Heritage Open Days 2009 - Roman Activities in England
The Heritage Open Days - September 10th to 13th - celebrate England’s architecture and culture by allowing visitors free access to interesting properties that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Heritage Open Days is England’s biggest and most popular voluntary cultural event. Last year the event attracted around 1 million visitors. Heritage Open Days provides visitors with a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy these sometimes hidden, often curious and always interesting places in English cities, towns and villages - and completely free of charge.
Dr Simon Thurley from English Heritage says: "Heritage Open Days this year is set to be even bigger than last year, so even if you are a regular Heritage Open Days-goer there will be something new for you to see and do. This is a chance to explore not just country houses but the history and culture of everything from Buddhist temples and Masonic lodges to mines, farms, pubs and factories." Now we don't really mind going to the pub, but isn't there anything 'ancient' on the menu? Surely there must be?
Here are our favourite activities and places to attend in 'Roman Britain' this weekend:
Thu 10/09 & Fri 11/09 - Porchester Castle, Hampshire
Free access at Portchester Catle, the most impressive and best- preserved of the Roman 'Saxon Shore' forts.
Location: Castle Street, Portchester, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 9QW
Free access at Portchester Catle, the most impressive and best- preserved of the Roman 'Saxon Shore' forts: it is thought likely the fort of Portus Adurni mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum. It was built on the site of the Ancient British fortification Caer Peris, possibly during the 3rd century to protect the southern coastline of Britain, from Saxon raiders. It is also currently thought that the fort may have been a port for the Roman Army in an area inhabited by Saxon settlers.
Covering an area of nearly ten acres, it is the only Roman stronghold in northern Europe whose walls still mainly stand to their full 6 metre height, complete with most of their originally twenty towers. Subsequently housing a Saxon settlement, the huge waterside fortress became a Norman castle in the 12th century, when a formidable tower-keep was built in one corner. An exhibition in the keep interprets the history of the castle and Portchester village, and displays finds excavated on site. The inclusive audio tour explains life in the castle over the centuries, from the point of view of some of the people who worked or were incarcerated there.
Organized by English Heritage.
Fri 11/09 - The Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre, Kent
The Richborough Roman Fort and Ampitheatre
Location: Richborough, Kent, CT13 9JW
Richborough is perhaps the most symbolically important of all Roman sites in Britain, witnessing both the beginning and almost the end of Roman rule here. Overlooking a sheltered lagoon harbour it's here, all but certainly, the invading Roman forces first landed and established a bridgehead. This event was later commemorated by a mighty triumphal arch, whose cross-shaped foundations still surviving at the fort.
Proclaiming that the Roman conquest of Britain was complete, this also provided an impressive gateway for arrivals at what became the province's main entry port. By the mid-3rd century Roman Britain was under attack by sea-borne Saxon and other raiders. The once-prosperous commercial port of Rutupiae was hastily fortified, first by the digging of the great triple ditches and ramparts still visible round the site of the arch. But within a decade or so the defences were completely revamped, and Richborough was provided with its circuit of towered stone walls and outer ditches, becoming one of the most important of the 'Saxon Shore' forts.
The Richborough Roman Fort was also among the last ones to be regularly occupied: there is evidence of a large Roman population here in the early 5th century, some of them worshipping in the little Early Christian church discovered in one corner of the fort.
Organized by English Heritage.
Fri 11/09 & Sat 12/09 - Segedum Roman Fort, Baths and Museum, Tyne and Wear
Segedunum Roman Fort Baths and Museum
Location: Buddle Street, Wallsend, North Tyneside, Tyne & Wear, NE286HR
Today, Segedunum is once again the gateway to Hadrian's Wall it once was. It is the most excavated Fort along the Wall and has a large interactive museum plus a 35 metre high viewing tower providing outstanding views across this World Heritage Site.
In AD122 the Emperor Hadrian ordered a mighty frontier system to be built across Britain to defend the Roman Empire from the barbarians to the North. The result was Hadrian's Wall, a 73 mile barrier stretching from the River Tyne in the east to the Solway Firth in the west. Segedunum, which means strong Fort, stood at the eastern end of the Wall and was home to 600 Roman soldiers. For almost 300 years Segedunum guarded this important part of the frontier.
Thanks to the Heritage Open Days you get free admission to the museum and site this weekend. On Friday (10.30am)and Saturday (1.45pm) a guided tour of the fort, baths, colliery site and section of Hadrian's Wall, lasting approx 1 hour will be available. Friday 3.45pm and Saturday 1pm there is 'Romans Revealed', a chance to find out more about some of the fascinating objects on display in the museum, with the opportunity to handle some Roman artefacts. For both the tours and 'Romans Revealed' booking is essential: contact the museum on 0191 2369347.
Organized by the Newcastle City Council.
Sat 12/09 - Parks Trust's Roman Day, Buckinghamshire
Celebrate the Roman Era at the Bancroft Park Roman Villa
Location: Roman Villa, Constantine Way, Bancroft Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
The foundations of a Romano-British farm are to be seen in what is now the North Loughton Park, overlooking the Shenley Brook. What was once the site of a Roman villa has now been partly restored - or more precise, set out with low brick walls - to give visitors an idea of the layout. The on site interpretation boards explain about Roman life and what each of the rooms was used for. Step back in time and celebrate the Roman era in Milton Keynes. You need to bring this voucher from mkheritage.co.uk with you, else you'll pay a 3£ entrance fee. Pre-booking is required.
Organized by the Milton Keynes Council and the MK Museum.
Sat 12/09 & Sun 13/09 - The Roman Theatre Verulamium, Hertfordshire
The Roman Theatre and the Verulamium Park at St Albans
Location: Blue House Hill, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3
Although the walls which once stood around the theatre have gone, the banks where tiered seating once stood remain. A column from the stage area has been recreated. Information boards are placed around the site to describe the function of each area of the theatre. Most of the stone was taken from the theatre to use in the building of St Albans cathedral.
In the neighbouring park, where Verulamium once stood, a floor from one of the larger Roman houses has been excavated, and can be viewed in a building in the park a short walk from the museum. Here a great town, part of a great civilisation, simply melted into the ground after the Roman withdrawal in 410AD.
Saturday at 11am and Sunday at 3pm you can joing the 'Verulamium in a Nutshell Guided Wark' to learn more about what once was Britain's 3rd largest Roman town, see the Foundations of the London Gate, the Roman Walls and the superb mosaic in it's new housing. Meet at the Verulamium Museum to join in.
Organized by the City and District of St Albans Tour Guides.
Sun 13/09 - The Cirencester Ampitheatre, Goucestershire
Family Fun Folk Afternoon at the Cirencester Ampitheatre.
Location: Cirencester Amphitheatre, Cotswold Avenue, Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
The Cirencester Amphitheatre, built in the early 2nd century. is one of the largest known examples surviving from the Roman occupation of Britain. It served the Roman city of Corinium, now Cirencester, then second only in size and importance to London, and had a capacity of around 8,000 spectators. It was later fortified against Saxon invaders. Just for the day Cirencester's hidden gem will host a Family Fun Folk afternoon - an opportunity to listen to traditional folk music and dance at the Amphitheatre. Guided creative walks from the Cirencester Leisure Centre to the Amphitheatre are starting at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. The walk takes approximately 20 minutes and there will be free leaflets available at the Leisure centre giving easy walking directions to the site. Once in the neighbourhood, you can also go visit the Chedworth Roman Villa.
Organized by English Heritage.
More 'Roman' oriented Heritage Open Days events this weekend via their calendar or start at the beginning. Also keep an eye on Heritage Key - or even better, subscribe - as we'll chose some 'Neolithic' events this weekend that are definitely worth your time (and won't cost you a dime).
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