Ribchester
Sunday 13th July 2003

REPORT by PHIL.B
PHOTO's © FISH

---

On Sunday the 13th of July 2003, three North West Time Team Forum Friends met at the public conveniences in RIBCHESTER, LANCASHIRE. Being the site of the Roman Fort of BREMETENACUM, the Meet was timed to coincide with the arrival of a Roman re-enactment group - LEGIO SECUNDA AUGUSTA - who descend on the village every year. So it was for this purpose that Phil.b, Sue Hurd and fish turned up on a glorious sunny day.

However, before the Roman stuff there was a short amble to a couple of more 'modern' structures.

The first of these were the Stydd Almshouses. The Almshouses were endowed by a John Shireburn in 1726 for five persons, Roman Catholic widows or spinsters, to live separately with coals and allowances. Until recently these terms were strictly adhered to.

Our second structure is said to be one of the most intriguing structures in the county, Stydd Chapel. It was originally built in 1136 by the Knights Hospitallers of Wakefield and endowed with 11 farms. It has a Norman doorway and windows on the north side and the south doorway is Early English with waterleaf on the capitals. Inside is a Jacobean pulpit with the remains of a canopy and there are also some rough oak benches against the wall. The chapel was restored in 1925.

From here our Triumvirate returned to the main village via the remains of the Roman Bath-house. In the top photo, the large open area going from bottom to left is the Furnace Room. The first flue you see in the middle of the photograph leads to the Calderium (Hot Room) which is under the grassy area at right. The open area next to this is the Tepidarium (Warm Room).

In the second picture you can also see the flue to the Calderium in the foreground. Just behind the three steps is a circular room which was the Sudatorium or Sweating Room with it's own Furnace Room just in front of the hedge. Under the grassy mound to the right is Apodyterium (Changing Room).

From The Bath-house we made our way to the Granary remains, although not exactly startling in their appearance (probably why there's no photo!) they do give you an idea of their size and layout.

Then it was Lunch. A quick trip to the local mini-mart saw us all suitably loaded up with goodies, then it was down to the riverbank to feast. The sun was shining brightly as we ate, children were playing in the river and a local cat was making its way around the various families and groups of people trying to cadge a morsal or two.

Our agenda for the afternoon was to visit the museum then off to the local field for the Roman re-enactment group to show us what they had. Now Ribchester's museum was re-opened in 2002 after a refit and to me, having been before, it was a great improvement. There were a couple of points where the displays could have been better - particularly the glass floor with three piles of hypercaust and one dehumidifier! At two pounds for entry it was pretty reasonable too. From here it was a short walk to the field although when we got there we were dismayed to find that the next 'show' by the re-enactors was not until 3pm. It was 1.45pm. It was warm. No, it was hot! To add insult to this waiting injury there was also an admission charge of three pounds to the area where the re-enactors were going to do their stuff - with free admission to the museum included! A quick decision to get more water before entering this area was agreed upon and when we returned a quick comment of "Wish we'd known about the free admission before we paid in the museum" was greeted by "Oh well - in you go then!". And the heat rose. A quick look round the tents was all we could manage before being driven to the shade of a large tree, 45 minutes to go before the show.

At 3pm on the dot a voice rang out that the show was about to begin, could we all vacate the shade to gather around the Roman Woman (left) who gave an insight into the everyday lives of Roman Citizens. This was followed by the Orator (right), who I think probably bored the pants off the masses, who in turn was replaced by what every child in the vicinity was waiting for, The Soldiers.

In depth explanations accompanied each of the types of soldier present - The Centurion, The Legionary, The Standard Bearer, The Auxiliaryman. The firing of the weapons was next on the Agenda and this was greeted with gasps of awe and wonderment from some of those around us.

At 4pm it was all over, we ambled over to the car park, said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. The next Meet will be awaited with interest.