Beautiful Lancashire

[penelope]

I live near to Chester, where there are a lot of Roman excavations and remains.

But the most incredible place I ever visited, in Britain, for Roman Remains was Vindalunda in Northumberland.

Vindolanda

You might enjoy a look at this link if you haven't been there.

The best thing, I thought, were the letters of the Roman Soldiers back home to their Mum's asking them to send warm socks.......it must have seemed like Siberia to them.

I also have a few of OH and me at Pmpeii. We were very privilidged because we went at the end of a cool and wet day and got the site to ourselves almost.

I'll post them on here if any of you haven't seen Pompeii and would be interested. Just let me know, otherwise I wont inflict them as we are not the best photographers in the World, in fact we are probably the worst.:O

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by penelope

I live near to Chester, where there are a lot of Roman excavations and remains.

But the most incredible place I ever visited, in Britain, for Roman Remains was Vindalunda in Northumberland.

Vindolanda

You might enjoy a look at this link if you haven't been there.

The best thing, I thought, were the letters of the Roman Soldiers back home to their Mum's asking them to send warm socks.......it must have seemed like Siberia to them.

I also have a few of OH and me at Pmpeii. We were very privilidged because we went at the end of a cool and wet day and got the site to ourselves almost.

I'll post them on here if any of you haven't seen Pompeii and would be interested. Just let me know, otherwise I wont inflict them as we are not the best photographers in the World, in fact we are probably the worst.:O

Please post them up Penelope, they will be interesting to look at. We have been talking of a drive to Northumberland, probably on a clear frosty type of wintry day. So any information would be helpful to us.

Thanks a lot in advance.

I'll check out the Vindolanda site you have linked up to later on as well.

Cheers

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Happyman

The Wastwater water ?? is used as the primary cooling medium I understand - this is then cooled by seawater in a heat exchanger and the fresh water recirculated after it has been cooled - ie the lake is not being used as a constant water supply - only when they do a complete cooling system purge ( or need to top up !)


On a totally different subject ( not trying to Hi-jack your bloody great thread) but it is sort of related !!!

North Yorkshire

I was on the threshold of going "stir crazy"- No ciggies and no whisky!! LOL- hospital room hasn't even got a balcony so I can sneak a quick "drag"- and a fellow history nutter, knowing my interest in things old and Roman towns etc, mailed me and asked "what town was this" - nowhere near any known Roman settlements or road.

Shit! can't copy the image but on Google Earth it is at
54-17-58-54 N
0-48-02-33 W

A perfect Roman fort but totally un-recorded!
(got the Roman section of my Database downloaded now !!!)
To the west of it there is a weird half finished Parallelogram type fort as well.

Did a lot of 'digging' - most of the day in fact - and found that it was actually a training camp for the Legion IX who were the first Roman occupiers of York where the PBI ( Poor Bloody Infantry) were sent to to learn how to build forts and live off the land !!! I bet they got a right bollocking for getting the first try all wonky ! LOL

From the net
Short bit on the Legion IX

York's Spanish connection Modern day shields of the Legio IX Hispana Thanks to the Romans, York and Spain have a connection that dates back almost 2000 years.
Archaeologist Mike Griffiths explores York's Spanish connection, through the Legio IX Hispana.

MORE FROM IROMANS

On a dreary wintry day in York, Spain with its white-washed villas and Moorish legacy, seems a long way both geographically and culturally. However, there is a very ancient link between York and Spain, one that stretches back nearly 2000 years. It started in 71 AD when a Roman legion, Legio IX, arrived to set up a fortress on the north bank of the Ouse. When they arrived there was nothing here; nobody had found any good reason to settle the area.
When the legionaries arrived they probably didn't know if they were going to be based here for a matter of months or a few years; in fact, they stayed for a full half century, the longest single posting in their history.
Roman roots
Their legacy survives today. The fortress that they built, first in wood and later in stone, established the pattern and layout of York's historic core. If you approach the city from the A19 it is along a road established by the IX. Going through Bootham Bar you are entering through the one of the original openings in the Roman defences.
Walking down Petergate you follow the line of one of the principal streets within the fortress and when you gaze on the Minster you are looking at the spot where there once stood an equally massive and impressive structure, the Roman Headquarters Building.
So what is the Spanish connection in all this? Well like many Roman Legions the IX also had a name, not just a number. Like all legionary titles it was a name which reflected something in the history of a particular legion that marked it out from others and was borne with pride. The IX was known as Legio IX Hispana, or as we would say today the Ninth Spanish Legion; not that there were ever eight other Spanish legions.
Legio IX Hispana re-enactment A noble reputation
Legio IX was one of the oldest imperial legions and had served with distinction under Julius Caesar fighting for him in Spain in 49 BC. It later served in Africa, Macedonia, and then spent 12 long years campaigning back in Spain. Here the legion acquired its first Spanish title, Hispaniensis, meaning based in Spain. Sometime later, after it had moved on to fight more battles in equally hostile corners of the Empire, this became Hispana and that is the title that stayed with it until its bitter end.
From tombstones found at the many different locations where the legion was based before it came to York we know that it it continued to attract recruits from Spain. This part of the empire may well have remained one of the IX's principal recruiting areas.
During its time in York there would have been an influx of many thousands of new recruits and the retirement of many time served soldiers. Most would presumably have returned to their birthplace attracted by the prospect of sun, sand and sangria.
Yorkies with Spanish blood?
Others were probably encouraged to take up generous land grants and settle around York to contribute to the process of romanisation, a policy promoted from Rome itself. On their retirement they would also have been able to enter into a legal marriage for the first time and gone on to start their own local dynasty. Today, running through the gene pool which is now York, there may well be some traces of those old Spanish troopers.
Legio IX left York sometime around 120AD, possibly redeployed after suffering some humiliating defeat in a campaign in northern Britain. They were replaced by another legion, this time Legio VI Victrix, the Victorious. Like the IX they had spent most of their history moving around the empire, never staying more than ten years in a single place. Perhaps it is something in York's water but it also proved to be their longest single posting; they were still here at least two hundred and fifty years later.
And presumably it is no more than mere coincidence that this legion had also served in Spain for many years, that its veterans settled there in large numbers, set up the city of Zaragoza and it was known for many years as Legio VI Hispaniensis; the only other legion to bear the title.



Hope it wasn't too boring



Cheers

Brilliant post Happyman, thanks for that as usual, it's really appreciated.

I'll try to give you a green later, couldn't last time as the system black balled my effort, said I had to 'spread them about.'

Problem is I have been pushed for time and whilst I enjoy reading the other threads, I simply have not had the time to do much of that at all of late.

No ciggies or whisky?

Is it a monastry you are in?

[penelope]

Northumberland is absolutely beautiful. Go to Seahouses and take a boat trip to the Farne Islands. Go in Late May/June and see the Puffins. Magical!!!

[Mathos]

Milldale itself is a really nice village. Beautiful cottages, woodland, a river, packsaddle bridge and plenty of ducks,



The small Barn type building here is actually a National Trust information centre.



It looked really neat as you can see.

We understand from the lady at the small village shop [at]Polly's' that there are some great walks in the asrea. It has to be worth an additional visit on a better day. There is a particular walk to the village of Dovedale which is meant to be very rewarding. Also Thors cave is in the location. All in all it is a very interesting and pleasant location.




As you can see it really was an exceptionally nice location.

[Happyman]

Originally Posted by penelope

I live near to Chester, where there are a lot of Roman excavations and remains.

But the most incredible place I ever visited, in Britain, for Roman Remains was Vindalunda in Northumberland.

Vindolanda

You might enjoy a look at this link if you haven't been there.

The best thing, I thought, were the letters of the Roman Soldiers back home to their Mum's asking them to send warm socks.......it must have seemed like Siberia to them.

I also have a few of OH and me at Pmpeii. We were very privilidged because we went at the end of a cool and wet day and got the site to ourselves almost.

I'll post them on here if any of you haven't seen Pompeii and would be interested. Just let me know, otherwise I wont inflict them as we are not the best photographers in the World, in fact we are probably the worst.:O

Somewhere I have a ref to a site that, working on reconstructions of roman towns in the uk, has 3 D digitilazied them and you can walk through the streets and go into the shops and buildings !! Spooky !
Got the time later today and will dig it out ( if it is on the bit of my database that I have so far !!!)

[Happyman]

Originally Posted by Mathos

It looked really neat as you can see.

Stop it right now !!!

I am sure that you are trying to get me to move back to the UK !

First you show me streams that scream TROUT!

Then you show perfect places for me to live- underground place was the first and now this !!!

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Happyman

Stop it right now !!!

I am sure that you are trying to get me to move back to the UK !

First you show me streams that scream TROUT!

Then you show perfect places for me to live- underground place was the first and now this !!!

I'm laughing too.



It's beautiful though isn't it.




Even the ducks are having a laugh.



This one above, I thought was sensational too. Maybe it was the aroma of the burning wood, it had a distinct apple tree flavour.

There is something really magical about villages like this.

[Happyman]

Apple tree
What was apple wood praised for in the past - and maybe still is ?

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by penelope

Northumberland is absolutely beautiful. Go to Seahouses and take a boat trip to the Farne Islands. Go in Late May/June and see the Puffins. Magical!!!

Thanks for the info: Penelope, sounds good. Obviously that trip will have to wait until next year though.



This was interesting. A natural spring fed into the village and neatly used for the inhabitants originally, since they were put onto mains, it now serves livestock.

Sparrowpit, that is a really nice name for a village as well.




The information sign from by the trough gives some interesting information too.




I think I'd be setting up a bottling plant for this supply if I lived in the location.

Mathos's Cure All Water...

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Happyman

Apple tree
What was apple wood praised for in the past - and maybe still is ?

I'm at a loss to really answer that one with any conviction Happyman, the only thing I can stir up a little memory cell for the same is Celtic folklore or even Witchcraft. Some benefits associated with the Pagan side of out history I seem to recall.

I'm sure you will put me right though.

[Mathos]

Some of these scenes are quite remarkable, a land of such natural beauty. No doubt at all about that.






There was hardly a living soul knocking about though. They had sense and were no doubt curled up by the fire.




I found another old telephone box as well.




One thing I have noticed over the last few years, with the advancement of the mobile phones, you never see a person in a phone box at all nowadays. Time was when there were banks of them together and queues outside each and everyone of them.

As The Zimmerman guy sang:- 'The Times, they are a changin'

[penelope]

Apple tree
What was apple wood praised for in the past - and maybe still is ?

Apple wood made the best logs for burning - smelt great. Not as good as Ash.

Logs to Burn
Beech-wood fires burn bright and clear,
If the logs are kept a year:
Store your Beech for Christmastide,
With new cut Holly laid beside.
Chestnut's only good, they say,
If for years 'tis stored away;
Birch and Fir-wood burn too fast,
Blaze too bright and do not last;
Flames from Larch will shoot up high,
Dangerously the sparks will fly.

But Ash-wood green and Ash-wood brown
Are fit for a Queen with golden crown.

Oaken logs, if dry and old,
Keep away the winters cold,
Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke;
Elm-wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold.
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread -
So it is in Ireland said;
Apple-wood will scent the room,
Pear-wood smells like flowers in bloom,

But Ash-wood wet and Ash-wood dry
A King may warm his slippers by.

[Happyman]

Waaaaay before that !!

From classical times apple wood was used to make the heads on a stone mason/sculptors mallet ( those with a sort of round head ) when they were carving statues from marble!

The greeks imported it from central Europe 'cos they don't grow apples in Greece.
It appears from ancient texts that it was used because it didn't split and was light enough to do delicate work all day !

Bloody hell the crap that is in the back of ones mind !!

[Mathos]

I wouldn't have liked to be spending my days looking over the grave-stones, albeit the cottage looked great. But it kind of came across like a 'waiting room'






This looked better photographed from the other side as well.




Amazing isn't it how one scene can look so different from an alternative position.

[Happyman]

Nice one Penelope!
Not heard that - but it's true!!!

Have a Green !

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by penelope

Apple wood made the best logs for burning - smelt great. Not as good as Ash.

Logs to Burn
Beech-wood fires burn bright and clear,
If the logs are kept a year:
Store your Beech for Christmastide,
With new cut Holly laid beside.
Chestnut's only good, they say,
If for years 'tis stored away;
Birch and Fir-wood burn too fast,
Blaze too bright and do not last;
Flames from Larch will shoot up high,
Dangerously the sparks will fly.

But Ash-wood green and Ash-wood brown
Are fit for a Queen with golden crown.

Oaken logs, if dry and old,
Keep away the winters cold,
Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke;
Elm-wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold.
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread -
So it is in Ireland said;
Apple-wood will scent the room,
Pear-wood smells like flowers in bloom,

But Ash-wood wet and Ash-wood dry
A King may warm his slippers by.

Nice, never come across that one before Penelope..G4U

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Happyman

Waaaaay before that !!

From classical times apple wood was used to make the heads on a stone mason/sculptors mallet ( those with a sort of round head ) when they were carving statues from marble!

The greeks imported it from central Europe 'cos they don't grow apples in Greece.
It appears from ancient texts that it was used because it didn't split and was light enough to do delicate work all day !

Bloody hell the crap that is in the back of ones mind !!

Interesting all the same Happyman.

[Happyman]

Off now
One of the nurses wants to email her boyfriend and I need some sleep - 4:45 am here !

Gotta keep them happy

[Mathos]

Last post for tonight.

These last few properties and views have been taken in the village of Milldale, beautiful place too.




You can feel the warmth just from the buildings and the obvious care that was associated with them in general.



I personally thought this village was something special. The clock on the wall of this house was quite unique. You don't see too many of those stand alone post/letter box units nowadays either.




Really nice and attractive.

You can't build something like this it takes years to establish itself and become part of the general environment.

Brilliant.




If it had been a dry day, I would have followed the footpath up the hillside here.





Even the roads in the vicinity were fantastic.