Chester Fort Plans and Progress

[Caballo]

I thought that Id start a new and separate thread to follow the Chester fort plans and the progress.



Article here http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/cheste...-29176645/

A HUGE tourism project which would be the first of its kind in the world could be built in Cheshire.
The Roman Fort Project, the brainchild of Paul Harston, who runs Chester Roman Tours, would see a life-size 1st century Roman marching camp built using traditional Roman methods, tools and materials by costumed labourers.
The idea for the ‘living museum’ so impressed bosses at Barclays that Paul has been awarded £50,000 to get his ambitious project off the ground.
"It’s very exciting," said businessman Paul, who is seen by thousands of tourists and visitors every year in Chester city centre, dressed in his Roman regalia.

"Romans are my passion and this fort, which would cover more than two acres in an area of about 60 acres, would teach people about history and archeology with no ropes or barriers."
The not-for-profit project would include a replica of the Roman soldiers’ marching camps which covered the UK more than 2,000 years ago when they invaded Britain.
"We need to find a suitable piece of land first," said Paul. ", who took part in the biggest ever Roman weekend in the city as part of this year’s Chestival in June.We’re in negotiations with land owners in Cheshire and Flintshire."
He added: "We will build the fort as the Romans would have done it. It will be an education centre about Roman and Celtic culture and heritage."
"My father was passionate about Romans as well, and it was his idea to create a living environment for people to learn from. I’m developing his idea."
The fort would include ‘turf and earth’ ramparts, a trench ditch, gates and towers, roundhouses, workshops and the commander’s villa, which will show how the Roman middle classes lived.
There could also be authentic baths, under-floor heating, running water and mosaics.
"There are a lot of people interested in this project," said Paul.
"Anyone can help us build it and construction companies and archeologists already want to get involved," said Paul.
As well as building the fort, Paul wants to create a typical Roman landscape so visitors can experience what living in the 1st century would really have looked like.
"We will recreate the flora and fauna of Roman Britain and Wales. We want to see the fort in context," he said.
"Ecologists are getting involved, and crops will be grown as Romans would have grown them."
Paul has not yet decided on the scale of the fort, and said it will cater for between 160 and 480 ‘soldiers’.
He believes it is likely to take between five and seven years to build – a process that will a tourist attraction in itself.
"This will be a significant project for tourism in this region," he said. "There is nothing like this anywhere in the world."
The Roman Fort Project was the Welsh winner in the Barclays Take One Small Step competition to help small businesses.
The bank said more than 5,000 businesses registered to take part and they were whittled down to a shortlist of 27 ideas across nine UK regions by a regional panel of three judges.
The public then voted for their favourite online.
Once the living museum has been established – which will give visitors the opportunity to see the impact the Romans’ arrival had on the local population and the types of crafts and work they spent their days doing – visitors who want a more hardcore approach to their history can immerse themselves in fort life for a number of days, living the life of a 1st Century citizen.
"Once we get the land, our team will start to gather funds, investment and support," added Paul.
"I can’t wait – it’s going to be fantastic."
A Barclays spokesman said: "This year’s winners have clearly demonstrated a real flair and passion that has set them apart from the rest.
"They have displayed a fantastic mix of creativity, ingenuity and business acumen to capture the public’s imagination to drive votes and ultimately clinch the £50,000 prize money.
"I hope this competition is a springboard for long term success."