I'll be in the Lake District next week and looking about online there seems to be a few Roman forts and the like in the area.
Anyone familiar with the region able to recommend any "must see" sites?
Glavia in Ambleside, Wordsworths Dove Cottage, Hardknott Fort, Eskdale Railway, Sellafield Visitors Centre, Maryport, Carlise, Ravenglass, Wasdale Head Inn, Barrow and Barrow Castle, Loghrigg Mine, Coniston Slate Mines, Lake Windemere, Beatrix Potters House, Zepherellies, Keswick Pencil Museum, Castlerigg Stone Circle,
Is that enough?
Yes, basically...
Thanks Lemmy, that's a good haul, will look into them!
It's "Galiva" Roman Fort in Ambleside (not 'Glavia'). Not a lot to see actually but what intrigued me when I was there a few years back was that they made swords there. So, I started thinking. Imagine you are in Late Roman Britain. The Romans have left, the Western Empire is in in last throes and it's the dawn of the Dark Ages. You have a sword which is greatly admired and are asked, "Where did you get that?" And you say, "From Galiva." Of course, you may be conversing in Latin so your reply might be, "Ex Galiva." *
Did I also say the fort is on the edge of a lake (Windermere)?
I fancied going to Hardknot Fort in Hardknot Pass - that looks like a better proposition - but, alas, did not make it.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hardknott+Roman+Fort/@54.4027279,-3.2075405,435m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x487cc7edf79c056b:0xd49b590709004834!8m2!3d54.4027248!4d-3.2053518 (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hardknott+Roman+Fort/@54.4027279,-3.2075405,435m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x487cc7edf79c056b:0xd49b590709004834!8m2!3d54.4027248!4d-3.2053518)
* by the way, I'm pronouncing "Galiva" as Gally Va (say "ex Galiva" fast)
Just seen David Beckham in that film. Not quite how I plan to do post-Roman Britain.
I sit corrected.
Hardknott is an odd fort, it only appears to have been occupied in summer, as it's half way down the pass, and has no vicus. It only has a bathhouse outside the fort enclosure and a parade ground.
My Roman History professor at Lancaster (which also has an impressive 4th Century fort) Prof Shotter, reckons that Hardknott was a punishment camp.
Brewery Art Centre in Kendal is good too. ;)
We saw Hardknott Fort from the car but we didn't get out to explore sadly. Castlerigg circle is a nice little walk as well, we parked in a layby on the A591 to the south and walked up the lane to it, which was probably a good idea with the number of cars and coaches parked up at the top end.
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22007843_10154761947282522_145611287787496636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr3-1.xx&oh=f379cdc6dfc815dc2b5e1e2117d06313&oe=5D8E0609)
Quote from: mad lemmey on 11 June 2019, 12:06:55 PM
Glavia in Ambleside, Wordsworths Dove Cottage, Hardknott Fort, Eskdale Railway, Sellafield Visitors Centre, Maryport, Carlise, Ravenglass, Wasdale Head Inn, Barrow and Barrow Castle, Loghrigg Mine, Coniston Slate Mines, Lake Windemere, Beatrix Potters House, Zepherellies, Keswick Pencil Museum, Castlerigg Stone Circle,
Is that enough?
Barrow??? Having worked there for several years rather you than me! I also don't recall Barrow Castle, but the Abby is nice. But I'd not be heading all the way down there just for that.
There is (was?) a nice Museum at Millom, met a chap there who had been with the Grenadier Guards at Nijmegen.
The area is definitely good for the obvious stuff, lakes, hills and quaint villages.
There's an interesting zoo just before you get to Barrow, should you need a change from history. Kendal is also an attractive old town with castle and a really nice Booth's supermarket (specific to the north-west - like Waitrose, but with a Phd.
Some good suggestions here, thanks, and yeah not just historical stuff, if there's other good things to do I'm happy to hear it.
Quote from: Leman on 11 June 2019, 08:05:15 PM
There's an interesting zoo just before you get to Barrow, should you need a change from history.
If that's the South Lakes Safari place, I wouldn't recommend it I'm afraid. We went quite a few years ago and it wasn't too bad but since then one of the keepers was mauled to death by a tiger and they've had a lot of animal deaths due to not looking after them properly: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-39116282
That's sad to hear. I looked it up there and it appears to have been under new management for the past few years and significantly increased the welfare standards under the new owners.
Isn't there a cottage that one of the War Poets owned? Turned into something of a museum to them I believe.