Described as the ‘most complete Roman cavalry fort in Britain’, Chesters dates from AD123, just after Hadrian’s Wall was completed. In a lovely setting by the River Tyne, the most visible aspect of the fort are the Roman baths. A full history of the ruins can be found here.
The cavalrymen lived in close confinement with their horses and some interesting thoughts and details are provided on information boards.
After a sweaty day with the horses it must have been wonderful to indulge in a little scrubbing in the tub.
The commander, of course, lived in relative luxury. He must have wondered what he’d done to be exiled to the ‘edge of Empire’.
I had intended this to be the subject of a Monday walk, but I’m running out of Mondays before I’m back in the Algarve. Paula has obligingly included Fortified in her Pick of the Week in August and I’ve just time to slip this in before the next Thursday’s Special.
restlessjo 
It always interests me how the Romans seemed to get everything “right”. Everything from their architecture to their civic management seems to be well planned and thought through. I wonder if there will be any monuments from our time that will survive for hundreds of years in the future? or is it that the society we live in is just not as well built as it was then?
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I don’t really think that you can compare the two. Times are so very different. But you could certainly say that the Romans were ahead of their time and trail blazers in many respects. 🙂 🙂
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Oh, thank you, Jo. This the bit of the Wall that I haven’t visited. Marvelous depiction!
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You’re very welcome, hon! I gather life is still hectic 🙂 🙂
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Yes, very.
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What a fascinating place, their lives seem to have been so sophisticated, but we can only imagine can’t we really?
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend, the forecast rain has arrived here, a bit of a nuisance as my nephew has way too mush energy to burn off!
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Oh, shame! We have Headland Show and Raft Race going on here this afternoon. It hasn’t reached us yet but there’s no doubt it will. 😦 Race start 3.45. What’s the betting? We have a ceiglihd tonight, which will depend more on Mick’s foot than the weather. Be a bit bleak up on the Wall today. 🙂 🙂
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Been far far too long since I explored an English Roman fort, this one looks tempting!
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This was going to be the year I walked Hadrian’s Wall. Ha! Me and my big ideas 😦 We just keep doing little snippets (and Mick is bored by it! If he didn’t have gout, I’d kick him sometimes 🙂 )
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You need to find a Hadrian friend!!
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Two Monday Walks, two Six-Word Sats and two postings have gone by. I’ve been unable to comment due to illness but I managed to read them and enjoy them all as usual but the effort to think of something to say was too much! Now back in the world of people doing things again, I shall be ready for the next posting and maybe even manage to put something up myself.
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Bless you, hon- I’ve missed you! 🙂 🙂 I spotted a like on one of the posts and wondered if there was a problem. So glad you are feeling better. Hugs, Mari!
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Not been here for years, it and Housteads were common school trips in my youth, I don’t think we appreciated it properly. “Oh, no, not the Roman Wall again!”
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The site has been tidied up considerably in the last few years, Anabel, and there’s an interesting museum that I don’t remember from my last visit. 🙂 🙂
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I’m sure I would enjoy it much more these days than when I was a surly teenager!
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It’s quite astonishing to think that the old Romans got this far north. Chesters looks like an impressive place, and surely a beautiful spot for capturing photographs as yours so clearly show.
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Thanks, Otto 🙂 🙂 I don’t know how much they appreciated Northumberland. It must have been a bit cool for them! But the area in which Hadrian’s Wall was built is certainly beautiful, and I love it.
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Wow, ein sehr eindrücklicher Ort. Herzlichen Dank für den Bericht und liebe Grüsse. Ernst
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Danke, Ernst 🙂 🙂 Guten weekend!
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Incredible, I love me a bit a Roman archaeology! So is this the big permanent move now coming up? If it is, I wish you every happiness (and I wish you the same, even if it isn’t!)
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We don’t really want to leave permanently with the house unsold and unoccupied Tanya, so we’re dragging our feet a bit. We’re going for 6 weeks and then will pop back to check things out (and celebrate a 70th with friends 🙂 ). Thanks, hon!
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Sounds like a wise plan!
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It’s been a really long time since I joined you for a Monday walk. 🙂 I love finding gems like these.
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I spotted you on Instagram the other day and wondered what you’d been up to. 🙂 🙂 It’s possible to walk the length of Hadrian’s Wall and visit a number of these sites. I always meant to.
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Aww…I’ve taken such a long break from blogging. And I haven’t been regular with commenting. I’m trying hard to change that. Thanks for asking! xo
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What an incredible place to walk with the ghosts of ancient history, Jo. I feel excitement just seeing the photos, so I can only imagine!
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I love being up at the Wall, Debs, and reading the stories. Quite incredible to be able to reach back in time like this. We are privileged. 🙂 🙂
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I’ve missed a few of your posts while off sailing the seas, but I’m happy to catch this as I get home today! I always forget the scope of the Roman ruins found far from Rome itself … these are real beauties, especially the setting on that lovely river. Good luck with the Algarve move!
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Thanks, Lexie 🙂 🙂 Judging from your Instagram photos it was a fabulous trip. Looking forward to the stories.
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It’s amazing that these ruins are so complete. I find all this ancient history fascinating.
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The whole line of Hadrian’s Wall, almost coast to coast, has some wonderful remains. For me the outstanding one is Vindolanda, but there are many sites to visit. I don’t suppose you’ve ever been to this part of the world? It’s not so very far from Paris. 🙂 🙂
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No, but I’ll try to get there one day.
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It’s a beautiful land. I’m deserting it soon for the Algarve but I will miss it.
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