Silchester Association Future Events

Open Garden Day Sunday 19^th June

Unfortunately we haven’t had as many volunteers as we might have hoped for, to open up their gardens for us all to enjoy, and therefore reluctantly we have been forced to cancel this event at least for this year. It may be that you might have taken part but feel that our choice of timing would not show your garden to its best advantage. If that is the case then please get in touch with us and let us know what time of the year might suit you better!

Roman Weekend 17 – 18^th July

Coinciding with the open day at the Roman Town Life dig by Reading University, Silchester Association is planning a weekend of events by Portsmouth based re- enactment group Legio Secunda Augusta, depicting Roman life, dress, food and militaria.  The event will take place over the weekend  of 17^th and 18^th of July in the field on the opposite side of the Drove Road to the dig site, so please be sure to make a note in your diaries to visit the site during this open weekend, to see what life was like 2000 years ago!

Gates are open from 11.00am until 4.30pm on both Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18^th July. Entrance from the gate in the Drove Road opposite the dig site. Entrance prices are £20 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children aged 5 to 16), single adults £7, additional children 5 – 16 £5, Senior citizens £5, and children under age 5 free. Car parking will be available as an extension of the Wall Lane Car Park.

There will be arena displays (2 each day) of various military activities including marching and other military manoeuvres, artillery demonstrations using a catapaulta and a ballista, and also gladiator contests, at the end of which the children will be invited to have a go (with rubber weapons we hasten to add!)

There will be a demonstration of a contubernium which is an 8 man leather tent used by men on the march, as well as an all day ‘Living History’ programme separated from the arena which includes Roman Cooking, a Roman street kitchen, cosmetics, spinning and weaving, childrens games, and healthcare including midwifery!

As you can see this is an ambitious project for the Silchester Association and we look forward to big crowds on each of the 2 days, and of course some good summer weather!

Finally, don’t forget to visit our web site www.silchester.org for details of forthcoming events and www.silchesterlife.org for photos of previous events.

Howard Wilkinson