THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

ROMAN INVASION OF THE DOWNLAND

Copyright Valerie Martin 2002

The scene: early Sunday morning, 28th April 2002.

Some photographs, like this one, are thumbnails to speed up the download.  Please click picture to see a larger version

A website covering this historic march over the downland (and explaining all) can be found at http://www.legiiavg.org.uk/  and is well worth a visit.  In fact, the army were the Legio Secunda Augusta Roman Re-enactment Soldiers.

The Centurions Walk took place bright and early on Sunday 28th April 2002 from below Chanctonbury Ring at Wiston House (just over the Downs from Findon) to Storrington.

Wiston House on the morning of the Roman's expedition to Storrington.

Perhaps I should not be surprised that at that early hour on a Sunday morning, the modern man can look as worn and weary as I imagine the Roman invader would have done.

In the stable yard at Wiston House.

Horse complete with Roman saddle.   Look no stirrups.

At the Wiston stables.

Preparing to depart from Wiston House Stables.

Here we go.

Getting fidgety in the stable yard and anxious to be off.

The very authentic Roman army in full uniform leave the stables behind Wiston House at 8.30 a.m. for the long march to Storrington.

Those mounted decided to discard their shields at the last moment as the "borrowed" horses shied at them!  

Setting off.

The start of the trek.

En route.

Bringing up the rear!

Heading for the Downs.

I then went home for a cuppa coffee ....and took the dogs for a walk on Cissbury Ring......just in time to see the indistinct outline of the legion in the distance trudging by Chanctonbury Ring.

Continue if you would like to read about the Romano-British Farm in Findon.
 

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created exclusively for documenting life in Findon.