The Friends of the Colchester Archaeological Trust (FCAT) are holding a Roman army day here at Roman Circus House on Saturday 5th April, titled ‘The Roman army – fact or fiction’. John Smith, an expert on Roman military equipment, will present two sessions on the Roman army.
The morning session, from 11.00 am to 12.00 pm, is open to the public and is primarily for children. It is a pro-active talk and demonstration on Roman army equipment, when John will be dressed as a Roman soldier and using replicas. The afternoon session is for members of FCAT only. The morning session is free but all children must be accompanied by an adult. (The afternoon session costs £5.00 per adult. It starts at 2.00 pm and is a lecture titled ‘The Roman army – fact or fiction’, based on John’s research, and illustrated with artefacts found in Colchester. The lecture includes more detailed (some gruesome) information which is not really suitable for children.) Please book in advance for both sessions: contact Brenda by ‘phone on (01206) 825655.
The cafe at Roman Circus House will be open on the day for hot and cold drinks and you are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Free car-parking is available in the area of rough ground at the junction of Circular Road North and Stable Road, and there are P&D car-parks at the junction of Napier Road and Mersea Road and off Butt Road.
Please see our sketch map of how to find Roman Circus House on this web-site at www.thecolchesterarchaeologist.co.uk/?p=6879
The image shows John dressed as a Roman soldier at Bridport Museum a couple of years ago; the headline image is of the Roman military helmet reconstructed from fragments found on the Sheepen site at Colchester, from the Trust’s popular book City of Victory – the story of Colchester, Britain’s first Roman town.
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