To mark the birthday of Emperor Antoninus Pius – who built his Roman frontier across Falkirk district – we’ve organised a series of events to celebrate our rich Roman heritage. Welcome to the second Big Roman Week. From September 11 to 19, 2010 AD.
—– please note this is an archived story —— if you’re looking for details on the 2011 Roman Week, click here
ALL WEEK – Display of Roman Pottery in Bo’ness Library, Scotland’s Close, Bo’ness, EH51 0AH. Plus exhibition and Roman book display in Bonnybridge Library, Bridge Street, Bonnybridge, FK4 1AD. Free. For opening times, visit www.falkirk.gov.uk/libraries
ALL WEEK – Shop like a Roman. Look out for special Italian/Roman offers in local shops to tie in with Big Roman Week.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 – ROMANS IN THE GLOAMIN’. Come along to Bonnybridge Library and meet a Roman soldier! Help to build an Antonine Wall out of Lego! Walk to Rough Castle Fort with a Roman legionary and see the Unesco-listed Antonine Wall through his eyes. The fun starts early at the Library . . . (and all the events are free of charge.)
- 10 a.m. Craft session for children (all ages) – in Roman costume
- 11 a.m. Chatterbooks group (8-12 years) will be making shields and mosaics – a prize for the best dressed Roman is on offer.
- 11 a.m. A costumed interpreter from Historic Scotland will appear in a Roman soldier’s costume. He will tell you all about what he is wearing and answer all your questions. Children will also be building an Antonine Wall out of Lego, making a fort, word puzzles and colouring in.
- 12.30 p.m. Guided walk to Rough Castle Roman fort with a costumed interpreter from Historic Scotland and members of Greenhill Historical Society. Open to all ages. Find out what life was like when the Romans built the Antonine Wall and lived in Bonnybridge. Learn some fascinating facts about the Romans in Scotland. Set off from Bonnybridge Library, Bridge Street, Bonnybridge FK4 1AD or meet at the cattle grid at the western entrance to the Roughcastle fort site at 1 p.m. (If wet weather rules out the walk, join in a fun quiz with a Roman theme in Bonnybridge Library from 1 p.m. Silly questions, sensible questions, a food tasting round and prizes are promised.)
Organised by Greenhill Historical Society in conjunction with Falkirk Council and Historic Scotland. For details call the Library on 01324 503295 or Janice Macfarlane at Greenhill Historical Society on 01324 825396.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 TO SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 – Discover Roman artefacts in Kinneil Museum, Kinneil Estate, Bo’ness, EH51 0PR. During The Big Roman Week: special activities for children. Play Roman board games or design your own personalised Roman coin. Suitable for children aged 5 to 12 years. All children must be accompanied by a supervisory adult. Museum open Monday to Saturday from 12.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Please note: the Museum is closed on Sept 11/12 for the Bo’ness Hillclimb.) Admission free. Tel: 01506 778530 www.falkirk.gov.uk/cultural
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 – THE BRIDGENESS SLAB. Drop-in consultation event organised by Bo’ness Community Council and Falkirk Council on plans to locate a new replica of the Bridgeness Roman Slab just off Harbour Road in Bo’ness. Find out about the project, view the three different proposals and give your views. At the Bo’ness Regeneration Office, North Street, Bo’ness, EH51 0AQ. Drop in anytime from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 – LIFE ON THE FRONTIER. Geoff Bailey, keeper of archaeology and local history at Falkirk Council, gives a talk on Kinneil Roman Fortlet and Carriden Fort in Bo’ness. At Bo’ness Library, Scotland’s Close, Bo’ness EH51 0AH at 2.15 p.m. Tickets, priced £1 (including refreshments) available from the Library. Telephone: 01506 778520. Organised by Falkirk Council. www.falkirk.gov.uk/libraries
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 – AN AUDIENCE WITH ANTONINUS PIUS. Get up close and personal with the Emperor behind the Wall in a light-hearted comedy ‘interview’. Purely for fun. Upstairs at Bo’ness Library, Scotland’s Close, Bo’ness EH51 0AH, from 7.30 p.m. Admission free. Organised by The Friends of Kinneil.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 – FILM – ASTERIX IN BRITAIN (U). See the plucky Gaul and his chums in an animated adventure being specially shown for Roman Week. Asterix, Obelix, Getafix and co. come to the aid of ancient Britons suffering a Roman invasion. Hippodrome Cinema, Hope Street, Bo’ness, EH51 0AA, 11 a.m. All tickets £2.10. Box Office: 01324 506850. Organised by Falkirk Council. www.falkirk.gov.uk/hippodrome
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 – BIG ROMAN DAY IN BO’NESS. Meet the Antonine Guard re-enactment group in Bo’ness Town Centre. Fun for all the family. Plus craft market and other activities. From noon to 4 p.m. Free. Organised by Falkirk District Town Centre Management.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 – BIG ROMAN DAY IN BONNYBRIDGE. More fun at Bonnybridge Library. From 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. there’s a toga party for children over five years of age. A prize for the best dressed Roman is on offer. From 3.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Big Roman Quiz (adults vs. children). Both activities free. Bonnybridge Library, Bridge Street, Bonnybridge FK4 1AD. Organised by Greenhill Historical Society in conjunction with Falkirk Council.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 – CLOSING EVENT. FILM – THE ANTONINE WALL. Jim Walker, the President of the Glasgow Archaeological Society, provides live narration for this 1960 film, showing a walk along the Antonine Wall. See Bo’ness, Bonnybridge and Falkirk as it looked 50 years ago. Jim was brought up on Seabegs Farm, Bonnybridge and at the age of 15 discovered the Roman altar which is on display at Kinneil Museum. He also helped discover the nearby fortlet at Kinneil Estate. See the film and hear Jim’s talk at the Barony Theatre, Borrowstoun Road, Bo’ness. Film starts at 7.30 p.m. Followed by light refreshments to celebrate the Emperor’s Birthday. Admission free. Organised by The Friends of Kinneil in association with the Barony Theatre with the support of the Scottish Screen Archive.
The Big Roman Week has been organised by The Friends of Kinneil in conjunction with Greenhill Historical Society, Falkirk Council, Town Centre Management and Bo’ness Community Council.
www.kinneil.org.uk/bigromanweek
BIG ROMAN WEEK VENUES
Kinneil 