Legio XX Valeria Victrix

It is Roman weekend in Chester. Celt and Roman encampments have been set up in the park and the amphitheatre, built sometime in the late 70s, is the centre for much of the action today.

We sat in brilliant sunshine and watched the Celts fight among themselves and then watched the Roman drills.

There was so much else happening today that we did stay for the next show which featured the gladiators.

The amphitheatre will now be turned in to an open air cinema for a short season finishing of course with Gladiator, what else. Then there will be short performances of the Chester mystery plays. Great to see it being used almost 2000 years after it was built, though they don't throw the Christians to the lions any more.