2026
YORK 24/25 May 2026
The logistics for our displays at this site in 2026 were challenging.
As before access to the Museum and gardens is limited to certain times each day which makes things more complicated.
On site the room on the ground floor of The Museum we used for kitting up last year was not available and we had to take the kit boxes up two floors which was hard work.
Three displays were given each day to enthusiastic crowds.
Our main contact Jim Butler was, as usual, very helpful and is a good friend of the Guard.
LimesFest, Archaeological Park, Xanten (APX). June 12 –16 2026.
At one time our numbers for this job were over 40 however drop outs reduced us to 35.
Due to Covid restrictions we had not been the APX since 2018. We were to go in 2020 but lockdown put an end to that. This trip can be summed up in two parts. The journeys which were difficult, to say the least, and the time at Xanten which was good.
14 members set out from Guard HQ at 2am on Friday 12th June in the Disco with trailer and three LWB vans. A 17 seat minibus with 12 on board left an hour later. The first problem was the M25 which was closed between junctions 10 and 11 meaning we had to take diversions and lose time. All vehicles except the minibus then had to go into the new, since Brexit, customs facility at Sevington Kent to get our ATA Carnet paperwork stamped. This took another hour. Our late arrival at Dover Ferry Port meant we missed our allotted Ferry and had to take the next. At Calais due to the vans taking a wrong turn we lost a further two hours before the paperwork was processed.
To get through the Kennedy Tunnel at Antwerp is at best difficult. The later you get into the day the worse the traffic gets. We crawled at 2 miles an hour. Once clear of Antwerp the journey was straight forward with the last vehicle arriving at the APX at 9.30pm some 7 hours later than anticipated.
At the Park we were billeted in two 10x5 meter tents outside a building with toilets and a place to store and put on our kit. This worked well. However the building was a long way from our static display camp and the display field.
After erecting our static display camp on Saturday morning a quick 20 minute rehearsal with the other groups knocked us into some sort of shape.
Two displays took place each day together with a parade (Pompa) in between.
The displays went well and it was a sight for the public to see 150 Roman Soldiers displaying together making two large Testudos and four Wedges. The Guard led the Pompa on both days.
On Monday, a free day, roughly half of the group travelled to Oosterbeck, near Arnhem where after a very pleasant lunch we visited the Airborne Museum dedicated to the men who took part in the unsuccessful landings in 1944.
Unfortunately the drivers followed their satnavs and we missed certain features. Those who did not go to the Airborne Museum stayed to explore the APX and Xanten itself.
We hoped the return journey would not be as difficult as the one going. At Calais the P and O people said we had the wrong paperwork and tried to charge us an extra £500. Another hour was lost at Sevington, Kent waiting for the paperwork to be processed again and an accident on the M4 caused further delays meaning we got back to HQ 4 hours later than expected.
VINDOLANDA 11/12 JULY 2026
The Guard gave two displays each day to the public. The weather stayed fine on both days.
The lecture room in the Headley Centre is now being used as a library and could not be used, as before, to kit up. By putting cardboard and pieces of carpet on the floor, to protect from our hobnails, we were able to kit up in the Robin Birley Archaeology Centre near to the west entrance. This proved to be a lot more convenient. We set up our static camp near the Archaeology Centre and this too made things much easier.
We were billeted in the Headley Centre which has beds available for half of us. Others were on camp beds. The centre had a TV so, in the evening, members were able to watch England beat Norway in the Football World Cup.
On Friday evening we devoured meals in the Twice Brewed pub and on Saturday evening went to the County Hotel in Hexham.
CHESTER HOUSE ESTATE 25/26 JULY 2026
The Carpenters Arms in Irchester was able to provide meals for over twenty members on Friday evening with a prior booking.
Due to the fact we were nearly eaten alive by mosquitoes last year, in the large marquee, the organiser arranged for us to sleep on the first floor of the Museum building which was ideal.
Two displays were given each day to large crowds. We had asked for the rabbit holes to be filled before we arrived, so we did not have any injuries this year.
There was a BBQ on Saturday evening and bacon butties on Sunday morning in the estate courtyard.
The weekend went well.
ROMAN ARMY MUSEUM, GREENHEAD ,HADRIAN’S WALL 1/2 AUGUST 2026
Eight members turned out for this makers weekend where we showed the public how we make our kit. A good number of public turned up on the first day but less on the second day. It was great to see Pat Birley.
BIRDLIP ROMAN FESTIVAL 18 AUGUST 2026
Guard members gathered at Oakland Farm on Saturday 17th to prepare kit and to go to Birdlip and erect our static camp. In the evening members enjoyed a BBQ on the decking at the Farm.
On Sunday morning before we were able to move the BBQ cooking took place at 6am under the window where the lady of the house sleeps. This did not go down well at all!
The logistics at Birdlip are not easy. We start the day by marching from the village hall to the display site. In order to do this, we have to kit up in the Village Hall and then send our kit boxes, with our modern clothes, up to the display site before the public arrive. This is carefully planned and timed. However, things were made more complicated by two members who decided at the last minute they would not march meaning their kit was in the wrong place. Also, one member complicated the arrangements by deciding at this busy time it was essential he clean his kit.
Marching from the Village Hall there was, as last year, a large crowd waiting to see us march along Ermine Street and then follow us to the site. Two displays were given during the day to appreciative crowds. However, the weather was very hot, and we were grateful when the organisers bought us all a drink at the bar at the end of the day.
Back at HQ kit was unloaded and members departed to their various homes.
GLOUCESTER HISTORY FESTIVAL, BLACKFRIARS PRIORY, GLOUCESTER 19 SEPT 2026.
After telling some members they weren’t needed on this job six members who were down to come dropped out for a variety of reasons. Usually this would be a big problem but on this occasion the reduction in numbers was to our benefit as the site did not lend itself to a larger turnout than the 14, we had.
After Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries Blackfriars Priory avoided demolition by being bought by a wool merchant who in the medieval period converted parts of the site to living accommodation and other parts to a wool factory.
After setting up a one leather tent, three trestle table camp we kitted up in the Scriptorium Buttery before giving two presentations, on a small grass area, during the day. Our displays were fitted around the lecture programme which took place in the main hall, so the day was rather disjointed with periods when there were very few people around,
Birdlip
Thirty three Guard members attended what appears to be the last full display of 2025.
On Saturday members gathered at HQ to clean and repair kit.
After eating the usual fish and chip lunch three vehicles were loaded with camp kit, kit boxes, and shields, etc and driven to the event site in Birdlip where we erected the tents, set up the trestle tables and the artillery. Other organisations on site were Oxford Archaeology, Cotswold Archaeology, Chedworth Roman Villa and The Corinium Museum.
Back at HQ we had a BBQ, which included burgers, sausages salad and ice-cream, on the house decking. A very warm evening made for a very pleasant time.
After bacon butties on Sunday morning the Guard moved to Birdlip to first of all finish putting up the camp and tensioning the Onager. We then went to the village hall to kit up.
At 11am we started our march to the site and were surprised by the number of people waiting to see us march down Ermine Street who then followed us in.
The first display took place at 12pm and was notable for the size of the crowd
The afternoon display at 3pm did not have such a big crowd.
The weather was dry and warm on both days. Perhaps a little too warm when in kit.
Altogether this will go down as a successful event. 1000 people attended.
Caerleon
Nine members turned out at the ROMAN LEGION MUSEUM on the 2 August to help celebrate 175 years since the Museum opened. For us a fairly low key event mostly spent talking to the public. However it was good to return again to the Museum where we had not turned out since 2018. The weather was good and the public very engaged and asking questions. The Guard has a long relationship with the Museum where we first turned out in 1985.
Park in the Past
This was our first visit to this country park which has a reconstructed Roman fort within it. Overnight
we slept in the principia building and several canvas “contubernium” tents.
The weather stayed dry until 10 minutes before the last display on Sunday when it poured down.
Due to the rain a talk was given to the public in the Principia.
It was good that both nights had been dry as we then found the contubernium tents leaked badly.
HQ Weekend
HQ Weekend
Over 30 Guard members gathered at HQ on the 1st and 2nd of March 2025. The weather was really warm with bright sunshine.
Much work was done cleaning and repairing kit. Members were reminded they do not start allocating kit and removing kit from HQ without consulting the Quartermaster.
20 tonne of quarry stone had been delivered on Friday and a large crew of members did some good repair work on the HQ driveway. Some members also gained much pleasure in having a large bonfire.
In the evening of Saturday we went to the Butchers Arms in Sheepscombe.
York Museum Gardens
York was a job that was challenging due to the layout of the Museum and Museum Gardens, Times of Access and the Parking arrangements both for cars and the vans.
A good number of members arrived on Friday afternoon to erect the tent and unload the contents of one van into it.
Two displays were given each day to very large crowds . However on the second day we had to move to another display area as the organisers were worried that strong winds had been forecast and they didn't want the public standing under the tall trees. This meant on Sunday we could not shoot the artillery. At 12 pm each day we also marched from the Museum Gardens to York Minster, stopping for the public to take photos in front of the building.
Two new recruits turned out and did well.
The weather stayed dry each day and the forecasted strong winds did not materialise.
Colchester
At the end of July we returned after a long absence to Lower Castle Park in Colchester to take part in the Roman Festival 2023, along with Britannia who provided gladiator displays and Colchester Roman Circus Trust. Also present were various retail outlet stalls, food and beer tents, almost Kelmarsh reborn! There was also a Roman author event from where Lindsey Davis (author of the Falco series) came to say hello.
We had also given permission for a private film maker to take footage of us for a programme he was making about a Liverpool man who had decorated every room in his house with classical murals. He and his soundman turned out to be the least obtrusive team we have ever dealt with.
We gave our usual displays which were very well received and seemed to come together well right from the start. The artillery and archers shot well with Onager soft ammo landing in the river, Matt Preen demonstrated the cornu to good effect and acclaim from his comrades and a parade through the retail stalls and salute to the beer tent on the march back to camp was much appreciated.
The weather was mostly kind to us except that the threatened rain arrived at the end of the last display on Sunday. A hurried exit from the field led to the immediate packing away of the leather tents and display artefacts.
All told a good weekend at this new (for us) event which was well received with the organisers hoping for a return and several Guard members judging it to be the best job of the season so far.
Chester House Estate
A return to what is becoming an annual visit to this site. The weather was really hot on both days
and members had to make sure they kept themselves hydrated.
Steve Wagstaff and Fiona were making and displaying their Roman reproductions and Jim the Pot
was making Roman pottery. Also present were many history and archaeological groups.
The displays went well however during the first on Sunday morning Seggie put his foot down a rabbit
hole and had to be taken off the arena. He was attended by the ambulance crew, who were present,
and after being taken to hospital was found to have strained a tendon.
Terracotta Army
Our President Professor Simon James visiting the Terracotta Army complete with Guard Tie
Blaise Castle and Fishbourne
Blaise Castle
A Guard turnout took part in Bristol's Amazing Archaeology Day. Unlike last year, when it rained all day, The weather was dry and sunny. Public attendance was good as usual with this event.
Fishbourne Roman Palace.
This event went well with sunny weather both days. Two evenings were spent in the Bulls Head pub and yorkie provided bacon butties on Sunday morning.
Vindolanda
On Saturday morning we set up the camp by the Wall reconstructions . Two displays were given each day plus some children's marching sessions. Visitor numbers at Vindolanda on Saturday were the highest of 2024.
On Friday evening we retired to the Twice Brewed Pub where, by chance, we met members of the Sixth Legion from York. They subsequently made a visit to our camp. On Saturday evening some members stayed at Vindolanda for a BBQ but others went to Hexham for a meal. I took some new members to Housesteads early on Sunday morning.
The weather all weekend was dry but on the wrong side of being warm although we did the displays without cloaks.
"Came to see you today at Vindolanda and really enjoyed your show, very informative, friendly and knowledgeable re-enactors. Really brought the Romans to life in a spectacular location. Thank-you for what you do in keeping the Roman story alive."
Chester House
The displays went well with large crowds each time.The weather was bright warm sunshine and members had to be careful to keep hydrated.
On Sunday morning a few keen members kitted up early to take part in some filming to do with wildlife and how the landscape had changed over 2000 years.
Altogether a successful event
Essex Pipeline Dig
Our Optio Tim Haines has been interviewed by the BBC about some interesting discoveries during a pipeline dig
Kings Weston Roman Villa
On a Bank Holiday Saturday four Guard members turned out at Kings Weston Roman Villa in Bristol. This site is only open once a year to the public but can be opened on request for schools. This event was a meet and greet the Romans, with a tour of the villa, a look and handle of artefacts and childrens activities. We were well supported by volunteers from Bristol Museum which made the event run very smoothly.
We fielded many excellent questions and were able to to do small display of marching, a shield wall and even a very small testudo concept.
British Museum
Eight members turned out again at the BM in connection with the Legion Exhibition. This time the event was from 4-6pm which was far more convenient. This session was for BM members and their families.
LINCOLN CASTLE
It has been a long time since the Guard did a three day event. The weather was dry, warm and sunny for all three days. Also taking part in the Historical Event were Regia Anglorum and the Household. At first we didn't know if we could shoot the artillery but permission was given and on the last day the archers also shot their bows. Three Guard members were stationed at The Museum each day.
This will go down as a successful event and a good first full display of 2024.
http://www.typhoonphotography.com/
British Museum
BRITISH MUSEUM. 13TH APRIL
Eight members paraded at the second sleepover event at the British Museum which went well. The numbers attending the event had been increased from 240 to 300 children and adults. As before we toured the LEGION exhibition before our evening session. We have now seen the exhibition three times and still consider it a must for anyone studying the Roman Army.
There will be two further events on 11 May and 8 June 2024
©Benedict Johnson photography ltd
Corinium Museum
CORINIUM MUSEUM, CIRENCESTER. APRIL 5TH/6TH
This event was well attended by the public and Childrens Soldier marching went well. Both days we marched up to the Market Square to stir up public interest. On Friday evening we retired to the Butchers Arms at Sheepscombe.
