2010 - Late Roman events in the UK

[John Conyard]

Good morning Derek,

Thank you for your message and I hope to meet you in person this April.

2010 will see many events commemorating (or in Wales celebrating) 410. A "410 Committee" exists with various representation to co-ordinate a series of digs and events to mark the year, and bring it to the attention of television and the public. Wales have their own version of the 410 committee and are planning to refocus the annual event at Caerleon, and hold a smaller event at Caerwent.

The last 410 meeting was around two weeks ago. In 2010 the digging season at Vindolanda, perhaps the most beautiful "Roman" site in the UK, will concentrate on its late Roman past, as part of this 410 programme. Vindolanda has an outstanding museum and is linked with the Roman Army Museum further along Hadrians Wall. We hope to invite late Roman groups around the world to a weekend event at this site of outstanding natural beauty. Then working with the Hadrian's Wall partnership, we hope to hop eastwards along the Wall to co-ordinate with Arbeia for their annual Roman Festival on the Saturday. On the Sunday we would move a couple of miles over the river Tyne to Segedunum, or Walls End for their big Roman event. Vindolanda, Arbeia and Segedunum have the largest stone reconstructions of Roman buildings in the UK. This week long programme would allow visitors to view the Wall and the museums along the Wall, which is a World Heritage site. At Arbeia and Segedunum we would be working with late Roman cavalry, hopefully the largest number ever fielded in Britain. The 410 Committee will be advertising these events, and I hope to get out invites in the next few weeks. I know a number of re-enactors in the USA have contacted us already regarding Newcastle airport etc.

Dates have yet to be set, but August is favourable to coincide with school holidays and to avoid clashing with the Welsh events.

In fairness I must mention that there will be lots of events marking 410 across the UK. I have a suspicion that the biggest crowd in the north will be at Sewerby Hall outside Bridlington, for Comitatus's own August Bank Holiday event. Bridlington is probably the site of Praesidium, presumeably the home of the Praesidiensis. It's an annual event by the seaside in a stunning location. In the south a meeting has been held to link an event with the St.Albans Arts Festival on the rugby pitches to the south of the town. Time Team, a popular Sunday evening archaeology programme will be doing a programme based on 410. There will be numerous events based on the late Roman period, and I'm sure you would be welcome to all of them.