Britain\'s Lost Megafortress

[Marcus Caecilius Avitus]

Last Year we were involved in a huge ammount of filming (all around the country) for a new History Channel programme all about our home fortress Deva Victrix. The programme premieres on The History Channel on Wednesday June 27th at 9pm (UK, not sure about elsewhere).

here's a link to the History channel page detailing the programme:

http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site ... e_3266.php

Additional times for broadcast are :

Britain’s Lost Megafortress
Wed June 27th at 9:00pm

Thu June 28th at 10:00am

Sat June 30th at 8:00pm

Tue July 31st at 10:00pm

So don't forget to tune in or set your recorder/Sky+. Don't worry it doesn't confilct with ROME.

[Et tu brute]

Meh, I don't get the history channel, damn freeview

[Josef]

I have but i dont know if they show the same stuff here in Sweden

[Iceman]

:!: I think it may be a case of History Channel +1 as the second series of Rome is on at 9pm on Wednesdays.

Count me in though. I'll be watching. 8)

[Eleatic Guest]

A recent Timewatch investigation by the BBC speculated that, from the size and scale of the fort, had the Roman Empire not begun to collapse, Deva would have become the Roman capital of Britain and a launch post for invasions on Ireland. In fact, recent discoveries of a fort in Ireland suggest that at least one foray was made.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deva_Victrix

Sounds interesting. Did not knew about any Roman forrays into Ireland. Who knows more?

[Robert Vermaat]

A recent Timewatch investigation by the BBC speculated that, from the size and scale of the fort, had the Roman Empire not begun to collapse, Deva would have become the Roman capital of Britain and a launch post for invasions on Ireland. In fact, recent discoveries of a fort in Ireland suggest that at least one foray was made.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deva_Victrix

Sounds interesting. Did not knew about any Roman forrays into Ireland. Who knows more?

Stefan,
Who are you quoting here? Because that claim sounds a bit ridiculous in my opinion! All that I can find about is that some think Agricola would have taken up residence in Deva, which is not quite the same period as the time when ´the Empire began to crumble´...

[ambrosius]

That was the answer to a crossword puzzle I did once, where
the clue was: 'Destruction of Roman Chester'. Anyhoo, the quote:

A recent Timewatch investigation by the BBC speculated that, from the size and scale of the fort, had the Roman Empire not begun to collapse, Deva would have become the Roman capital of Britain and a launch post for invasions on Ireland. In fact, recent discoveries of a fort in Ireland suggest that at least one foray was made.

Sounds interesting. Did not knew about any Roman forrays into Ireland. Who knows more?

Stefan,
Who are you quoting here? Because that claim sounds a bit ridiculous in my opinion!

I remember that quote very well, actually. It was in the Timewatch
episode on Tony Wilmot's excavation of the amphitheatre at Chester
in 2004, which also included a cameo performance from one of our
mutual acquaintances: the outgoing Chester City Council archaeologist
Keith Matthews. 8)

[Robert Vermaat]

I remember that quote very well, actually. It was in the Timewatch episode on Tony Wilmot's excavation of the amphitheatre at Chester in 2004, which also included a cameo performance from one of our mutual acquaintances: the outgoing Chester City Council archaeologist
Keith Matthews. 8)

If they really said that on Timewatch, I'm beginning to think the standards of that show are beginning to emulate the History Channel.
I mean, "would have become, if not".. You would think they found a document with plans to actually move the government from the recently renamed current capital, Londinium. Which, apparently, is so strategically placed in Britain that apparently since it took over the position of capital from Camelodunum, no-one besides Hitler (who favored Oxford) seems to have even contemplated moving the seat of governemnt elsewhere.

Therefore I must remain slightly baffled about this statement.

I bet Keith made quite an impression on TV! :wink:

[Marcus Hortensius Castus]

Salve,
Is that program available on DVD? (the one on the mega fortress, in regards to the first post) Stateside we get a whole different schedule and the US history channel website doesn't even list it. I looked it up hoping to watch it last night and they were playing, for six hours, a crummy rotation of the modern marvels of butchers and something else mediocre in levels of intrest to me. Of course, they played yesterday the full barbarian and queen boudica series... while I was at work :evil:

The history channel in the states has gotten somewhat... boring at times.

[Marcus Caecilius Avitus]

Kyle,

(And anyone else in fact) the first screening isn't due 'til next week anyway. BUT, we obviously know the production company and they have mentioned that they may be selling DVD's of the show (but not until after it's been aired). Once the dust has sttled after our big roman festival (at the end of the month) I'll get in touch with Phil, find out the score and it may be possible for me to arrange copies for interested parties either directly or via myself.

Robert and Ambrosius; play nicely now! Keith lokked as colourful as you would have expected but don't forget the drive of the previous documentary was on the design and construction of the amphitheatre. although I have not seen any of the new programme if it includes half of the findings that we were lucky enough to get Peter Carrington to tell us about (like the 'Chariot car park') your in for a treat. 8)

[Chuck Russell]

The history channel in the states has gotten somewhat... boring at times.

what?????? we have a history channel???? when was this? i know we have a history international channel, but the only thing other than that is the HITLER channel. hehehhehehe

[Robert Vermaat]

Robert and Ambrosius; play nicely now! Keith lokked as colourful as you would have expected but don't forget the drive of the previous documentary was on the design and construction of the amphitheatre.

Oh, don't worry. I totally respect Keith and I think he knows that - I think my wink was phrased carefully enough? He provided some articles for one of my websites and I think he did a great job on the Chester amphitheatre.

[Marcus Hortensius Castus]

Argh, Thanks Marcus. I was a week ahead. What I get for cramming RAT and work together; I misread the date. Maybe it is showing then next week. If not, I'll pm you later to see about details pertaining obtaining a copy at some point.
Thanks!

[ambrosius]

If they really said that on Timewatch, I'm beginning to think the standards of that show are beginning to emulate the History Channel. I mean, "would have become, if not"..

I think what they said on Timewatch was that Chester seemed to be
of such importance that, had Hadrian not retrenched in Britain, then
the logical progression would have been the complete conquest of
Scotland and then possibly Ireland, too. If that had happened, then
Chester would have made a sensible capital, since it is actually in
the geographical centre of the Britiah Isles. The evidence of the large
domed building in Chester has made it look, to some, like it may
originally have been intended as a provincial capital.

You would think they found a document with plans to actually move the government from the recently renamed current capital, Londinium. Which, apparently, is so strategically placed in Britain that apparently since it took over the position of capital from Camelodunum, no-one besides Hitler (who favored Oxford) seems to have even contemplated moving the seat of governemnt elsewhere.

Well, there you go. Oxford, a sensible idea for a more centralised
capital for England (compare that with Chester for the British Isles).
You see, old Adolf wasn't a total fruitcake. :lol:

I think Camulodunum was only the initial Roman capital since it had
been the erswhile Catuvellaunian capital. And London became the
newer capital after the Boudiccan revolt, as it was more easily
denfensible and resupplyable by sea, should another revolt occur.
Many today think Birmingham would be a more logical capital, and
many utilities have relocated there.

I bet Keith made quite an impression on TV! :wink:

Well, wanting to play nice, I'll just say: Yes :lol: [/quote]

[Muzzaguchi]

When I spoke to the curator of the Grosvenor museum back in 2000 his favoured idea for the foundation of Deva was that it was by Agricola and originally intended as a launching post for the invasion of Ireland. I switched off at that point as I am convinced that it was founded by Frontinus (which makes him important in the foundation of Isca, Deva, and Eburacum - something of a pet subject of mine.)

There was an article in the Times (maybe the Independent) about the remains of a possible Roman fort in Ireland. I remember it was poo pooed at the time as a misunderstanding of iron age or dark age remains.

I'll see what I can dig up. Ha! :roll:

Cheers

Murray