A spectacular re-enactment of the Roman ‘Tubilustrium’ – a ceremony to make the army fit for war – will make a triumphant return to Lancaster this weekend, on Saturday 31st March.
The event will begin at 11.30am with a procession through the city, starting at Lancaster Castle and passing down Church Street and China Street before turning right onto Cheapside and then Market Street. It will finish up outside Lancaster City Museum in Market Square.
There, around 20 costumed Roman soldiers, horn blowers and dancers will recreate the amazing historical ceremony that was held in Rome in a building called the Hall of the Shoemakers (Atrium Sutorium).
Then, to show they are not so scary after all, the Romans will be at Lancaster Museum until 3.00pm, meeting visitors and entertaining them with fascinating facts about ancient Roman life.
Lancaster’s history goes back to Roman times (and beyond) and once had its own Roman army base on Vicarage Fields. The remains of some Roman baths can still be seen nearby.
“We are thrilled to welcome back the soldiers of Roman Tours UK, who will be wowing visitors with their re-enactment of Roman soldiering,” says Heather Dowler, Lancashire county council’s manager at the museum.
“This is the fourth year we have run this fantastic event, and I can’t think of a better way for people of all ages to have fun while discovering what it was like to be a Roman in Lancaster many, many centuries ago.”
Lancaster Museum is run by Lancashire County Council on behalf of Lancaster City Council.