What can happen

Every day in the Guardian there is a small column Country Diary. Always worth reading, no matter where in the country it comes from, today was a surprise as it led us to a Roman Fort we had no idea existed. 

Epiacum is just off the Pennine Way and the Alston to Carlisle road – 40 minutes from us. It is said to be the best preserved Roman Fort in England. And we knew nothing about it!! Fascinated, we looked up the website, discovered that it was open at all times and there was a car park. So off we went – no time like the present and we could listen to the vote on the radio!

What an impressive place. From the car park, where an excellent leaflet is available, we set off up the hill. Quite a pull, but we eventually started finding white painted stones with numbers on them (Roman of course) that indicated the various parts of the fort. The site is massive, earthworks everywhere. And it is so high up. A beautiful day, so the views of the Pennines were wonderful. We had the whole place to ourselves to just wander and wonder. This picture was taken whilst standing at a point called Sentry’s View, as it provides a viewpoint all round and overlooks the gateway where the main Roman Road, Maiden Way, diverts to the Fort. The Extra picture shows some of the seven rows of ramparts on the fort’s western side. Why they had so many no one knows, but they must have been very striking. The mound to the left is the base of one of the outer walls, it would have been at least 3 metres high. 

As the Maiden Way runs from Kirkby Thore to Epiacum to Hadrian’s Wall, it is thought that the fort was used to control the supply of lead and silver, which they mined in the hills close by. 

We eventually made our way back down to the car and by chance met the lady from the farm, on whose land the fort stands, and who has been at the centre of enabling access the fort. The project is run by a small not-for-profit organisation, which she heads and which relies on volunteers and grants to help the development of the site. She chatted to us for a long while, telling the history of the project and plans for the future. All credit to her for working so hard to try to make the place visitor friendly, whilst retaining the integrity of the site. 

Amazing what can happen when you read something and follow it up.