HISTORY fans are being given another chance to see a new documentary.
“The Mark of Rome” will get a free showing in the Barony Theatre, Bo’ness, on Thursday, April 18 – World Heritage Day. It follows the film’s premiere in the town earlier this year.
Anyone interested in seeing the film can get free tickets online at www.kinneil.org.uk/rome (Tickets may also be available on the door, on the night. The screening starts at 7.30 p.m.)
The event has been organised by The Friends of Kinneil charity, with the support of Falkirk Council.
The new movie follows the discovery of an important Roman relic, The Bridgeness Slab, in Bo’ness in the 1860s – and the local community’s efforts to have a replica made.
The original, carved distance tablet is one of the key artefacts from the Roman Antonine Wall and is now on display in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The film shows how lasers and hi-tech cutting equipment was used to make an exact copy of the slab and the replica’s eventual display off Harbour Road in Bo’ness, close to where the original slab was found.
The area is thought to be the eastern end of the Antonine Wall, built around 140 AD.
The documentary features archive photographs, interviews with local people and shots from the replica’s unveiling ceremony. It was commissioned by Falkirk Council and made by local firm Sanctus Media.
Maria Ford, from The Friends of Kinneil, said: “April 18 is World Heritage Day – or the International Day for Monuments and Sites to give it its posh title.
“The event aims to raise public awareness of the world’s built monuments and heritage sites and seemed an ideal opportunity to re-screen the film about the Bridgeness Slab and the town’s Roman links.
“There was great interest when the film was premiered in Bo’ness in February. However, not everyone could make the two screenings. So we’re pleased to give people another chance to see the movie on the big screen.
“Admission to the event is free – although we’d encourage people to book at http://www.kinneil.org.uk/rome to help us gauge numbers. Some tickets may also be available on the door on the night.
“We’ll also be selling cake and coffee afterwards for £1 each and running a fundraising raffle. DVD copies of the film will also be available for people to buy.”
The Friends charity was set up in 2006 to promote Kinneil Estate in Bo’ness, which features part of the Antonine Wall and the remains of a Roman fortlet. The charity is also involved in running the annual “Big Roman Week” festival each September. To find out more about The Friends and future activities – visit http://www.kinneil.org.uk
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