Chesters Roman Fort

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.

An overview of Chesters
What the spy glass reveals
The cavalrymen’s barracks
The regiment
Visible remains

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.

94 comments

  1. Fascinating history, I never tire of reading all about it Jo, especially when you share such excellent photos about it too. Hope Micks gout is getting better. When do you go to Algave?

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  3. >> … running out of Mondays..
    A nice problem to have, isn’t it? Ha.
    It’s amazing, but, still, I am happy I live now instead of then 😉 Sharing the same space with horses? I can’t imagine… 😉
    Have a great day, Jo.

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    1. The sun is shining on me in the UK this morning but there’ve been a lot of gloomy days lately, Helen. Yes, I’m almost ready to go. With a sack full of memories 🙂 🙂 Thanks so much for joining me here.

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  6. Imagine all of the hustle and bustle when it was in full swing. Sorry to read in the comments about Hubby’s gout. A nasty business from which I hope he soon has relief.

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  8. Marvelous, Jo. I just got back from visiting Africa with Tish and fell into Roman Britain. What a great morning and a good pre-work dive into history! I can’t remember whether I’ve asked you this (I know I have asked Tish), but have you read any Rosemary Sutcliff? She wrote wonderful Roman Britain books, many of which I own. This makes me want to get them out and start re-reading them again.

    janet

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  10. Love the history in your neck of the woods, Jo. My boys recently spent a few days your way, sightseeing (and to go to an Iron Maiden gig, naturally 😉 Great photos, as always. So sorry I haven’t been around much. This is the first blog catch up I’ve done in weeks, lovely to see you still enjoying lots of your wonderful walks. Have a great time in the Algarve if I don’t see you before. Hubby and I are off to Norway in September. Big hugs Jo 🙂 xxx

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    1. I would love to visit Norway too, Sherri, before the cold months set in, but I’ll be packing to head south, and tying up last minute things by then. It’s always wonderful to have your company, hon, and I’m sure we won’t lose touch. 🙂 🙂 Thanks and lots of hugs back to you.

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      1. Definitely won’t lose touch Jo, thanks so much for sticking with me through my Summerhouse absences. But…packing as in a holiday or are you moving? I’m so out of the loop… xxx

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      3. Wow…big moves for you then, Jo. A whole new life for you, my friend, bet you can’t wait. But we must not lose touch! Hope the transition goes as smoothly as possible for you as you keep us posted. Love & Hugs, dear Jo 🙂 xxx

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    1. Ha! I’ve just been looking at the Heritage Open Day events in County Durham next month, and it looks like I might be even busier. 🙂 🙂 Might as well see as much as I can before I go, Cathy.

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  13. Looks like a nice place for a wander. How different it must have been in its day though. We didn’t get to this site, Housesteads Roman Fort was the closest I think.

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  15. Looks so interesting Jo, we love places like that especially if it’s decent weather as it looked in your photos. The romans that were posted there must have upset someone important back home surely?

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  19. What a fantastic site, Jo. You’re doing a v. good job of expanding my knowledge of Roman remains in Britain. My parochial head rarely gets beyond Wroxeter just up the road.

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    1. I had an ambition to walk the Roman Wall this year, Tish, but it’s slipping away! So I have to do it in snippets 🙂 🙂 And the man in my life is troubled by gout again so not limping very far. No GP appointment until Sunday so we’re trying your suggestion (???) of Comfrey Oil and Ibruprofen till then. 😦

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      1. Oh dear. So sorry about the gout. And the appointment wait. I’m remembering 2 people we knew who suffered in Kenya – both decided it was alcohol that made it flair, which is a bummer. Comfrey oil is good for muscles and bones, not sure about gout, though it won’t hurt.

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      2. I hovered in Holland & Barrett’s for ages but couldn’t find inspiration. He was doing a garden measure in Durham this morning (I held the tape measure some of the time 🙂 ). Limping quite cheerfully, then rewarded himself with a pint of Guinness 😦 And would you believe we’ve been invited to a ceilidh Sunday evening? Life! 🙂

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      3. Now there’s a challenge to a hopping man – a ceilidh. There are quite a few homeopathic remedies – though in my experience chaps don’t believe in them. And you’d need to google them to find the right one for the particular set of symptoms.

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  20. It’s an impressive sight today. It must have been an amazing sight when it was fully operational. The surrounding area must have benefitted greatly from horse manure!

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