A celebration of Malton and Norton's rich Roman history takes place this weekend.

Malton Museum is hosting the 2024 Roman Festival, at the town's Orchard Fields, on Sunday, July 21.

This annual celebration of Roman life in our region will have something to please all the family, including children's activities, historians, archaeology and handicrafts.

Set on the site of the former Roman fort, it will feature the legionary encampment with our re-enactors in their replica costumes and, for the first time, members of the local Brigante Tribe as well.

A spokesperson for Malton Museum said: "The Empire will march its loyal legions into Delgovicia – now known as Malton and Norton –meeting the Brigantes, led by Queen Cartimandua, who have a prisoner the Romans are keen to get their hands on.

"What will happen next? Who is the prisoner? All will be revealed in the main arena, where our three re-enactor groups Equistry, Magister Militum and Legio VI Victrix will also be giving demonstrations of Roman weapons, archery, horseback combat and a gladiatorial display. They will be joined by Lena Martel the aerial artist giving a display of Roman entertainment."

In our new Talks Area, the museum is delighted to have Terry Deary, author of the Horrible Histories series, giving two talks, along with a number of other well-known authors including Nick Brown, Nancy Jardine, Clive Ashman, Julian Morgan and Kate Cunningham.

The spokesperson added: "A member of the Brigante tribe will be telling us about Queen Cartimandua, and Roman history researchers, academics and other guests will make sure everyone learns something new as well as having fun. Kemps Books will be there, selling Roman-themed books by the featured authors and many others.

"For children of all ages, there are some new activities which include axe throwing, carving a wooden bowl, throwing a plumbata, courtesy of Sylvankin, and painting plaster like a Roman artisan, as well as the usual hands-on archaeology, dressing up and mosaics. The empire will be recruiting for the Children's Roman Army: paint a shield, join up and be drilled by legionnaires in the main arena."

There will be food and drink stalls as well as a number of craft stalls.

The event is being staged by Malton Museum in conjunction with the Kirk Settlement Trust, Malton Town Council and the Fitzwilliam Estate.

The original Roman Fort in Malton appears to have been built around AD 71, some 30 years after the Romans invaded Britain, and was almost continuously occupied into the 5th Century AD . It is almost double the size of some of the forts on Hadrian’s Wall - reflecting the strategic importance of Malton and Norton to the Roman occupation

Tickets are available to buy in advance on the Malton Museum website or on the day at the gate. There is a small surcharge for some activities.

For more information go to www.maltonmuseum.co.uk/roman-festival-2024/

 

Malton Museum Roman Festival – Sunday July 21st 2024

Gates open at 10:30 on Orchard Field.

Arena and Legionary Camp Programme

11:00  Legions in camp – Legion dressing with Magister Militum and Legio VI Victrix, Eboracum

11:50  All Legions march around the fort

12:00  Equistry – Roman Cavalry - Arena

12:30  Cartimandua hands over Caractacus to the Romans - Brigantes of Wincobank Hill and Legio VI Victrix, Eboracum - Arena

13:00  Children’s Roman Army – meet in Camp

13:30  Equistry Gladiator practice - Arena

14:00  Legions in Camp

14:30  Equistry – Roman Cavalry – Arena

15:00  Equistry – Gladiator practice – Arena

15:30  Children’s Roman Army with All Legions march – meet in camp

Talks Tent Schedule

11:00 – 11:20 Terry Deary – Horrible Histories Author

11:35 – 11:55  How to plan a Roman Road

Mike Haken - Roman Roads Research Association

12:10 – 12:30  The Eastfield site in Scarborough

Dr Pete Wilson, Archaeologist

12:45 – 13:05  York Roman Baths

                        Graham Harris

13:20 – 13:40  Terry Deary – Horrible Histories Author

13:55 – 14:15  Cartimandua and Caractacus Q & A

                        Brigantes of Wincobank Hill

14:30 – 14:50  Nancy Jardine – Roman fiction author

15:05 – 15:25  How to plan a Roman Road

                        Mike Haken – Roman Roads Research Association

 

Please also see Storytime with Author Kate Cunningham and Vlad the Roman Flea, at the Story time circle at 12:30pm and 14:30pm.

BACK OUR BALES

The Museum thank everyone and business that has sponsored the festival. We still have a number of straw bales you can sponsor at £5 per time. Please go to the museum website 

CAR PARKING

There is free parking available at Tate-Smiths on Sheepfoot Hill, Malton, YO17 7DX and volunteers will be there to direct you. If this is full then there are a number of commercial car parks in town that you can use.

Trans Pennine Express run trains to Malton hourly and the Coastline bus also runs hourly on a Sunday. Both bus and railway stations are a 10 minute walk from the Orchard Field site.