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Illuminating Hadrian\'s Wall
#16
This event seems a little chaotic.

Comitatus will be taken by bus to an undisclosed location to light some beacons, along with hundreds of others.

The organisers have some viewing areas which they are responsible for, and these are over subscribed.

And hundreds of people will be wandering around the Wall in the dark, because they can.

P.S. Sorry Graham my email has wiped my records since early January. But you are welcome to stay over the night before the photo shot. An evening around York beckons.
John Conyard

York

A member of Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.historicalinterpretations.net">http://www.historicalinterpretations.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com">http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com
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#17
Quote:This event seems a little chaotic.

And not quite what it said it was. I've just got back from going to see it, only to discover that what they really did was not Illuminate the known course of Hadrian's Wall but rather the National Trail path - anybody who knows Wall miles 0-12 will know that the footpath takes a totally different route to the Wall between Wallsend and Heddon-on-the-Wall (for various reasons that have never been adequately explained to my mind, other than some vague notion that it's prettier by the river :roll: ). Well, Wall miles 11, 10, and 9 were devoid of any torches (I cycled along 'em so I know), thus I can't show you photos of them. There were a few desultory sparklers (or were they distress flares?) at Heddon, but what there was was a huge amount of traffic on the MIlitary Road (probably wondering who the nutter on the bike was), presumably aiming to get a look at the torches in the central sector (a very dangerous road to go rubber-necking on, as any regular driver of it will attest).

Brilliant idea, amazing work on the publicity, but at best the teensiest bit disingenuous, I'm afraid. An opportunity missed.

Mike Bishop
You know my method. It is founded upon the observance of trifles

Blogging, tweeting, and mapping Hadrian\'s Wall... because it\'s there
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#18
It was absolutely terrible actually.

My partner and I made the 95 mile journey from Blackpool to Carlisle to see the so called 'celebrations' - We arrived about 5pm - parked up near the station, went and did a bit of train spotting on the station and ventured into town about 6pm to find some fairies on stilts and some brass band playing what sounded like Eastern European folk music.. there were loads of people milling around with giant candles (which I might add the 'Lakes Alive' people were charging 4 quid each for!!) and we went to a chippy for some food, came back 20 minutes later and everyone had dissapeared and the PA was being dismantled.

We had no idea what was going on, there was no programme, no co-ordination and absolutely NO organisation. I asked someone where everything had gone and they said the 'parade' had gone near the castle and they set off a couple of rubbish fireworks which we heard as we got back in the car...

We were really quite pee'd off that we had travelled so far and we were there for less that 2 hours. There was not a Roman in site (considering their website made a point of saying this was partially for the '1600 anniversary of the end of Roman Britain') and quite frankly, we could have just taken 30 quid and burnt it... as thats how much petrol we put in the car to get up there...

NOT AMUSED! :evil: :x
Claire Marshall

General Layabout

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.plateau-imprints.co.uk">www.plateau-imprints.co.uk
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#19
Eight members of Comitatus headed north to enjoy the spectacle. We pitched our dog tents on the Friday night and experienced sub zero temperatures and frozen toothpaste. But it was fun in a strange sort of way.

We enjoyed the Roman Army Museum, and Vindolanda even more. Vindolanda is a very special place. I do wonder if the organisers of this event were short of people to light beacons, since we were offered eight different locations, and were still being contacted up till Friday morning. But I fear we declined the offers and headed up to Barcombe Down to enjoy the spectacle. From the first of the signal towers we were able to see a large stretch of the Wall.

The lights of several thousand cars confused the spectators. There were gaps in the chain of beacons and the lights did deviate from the line of the Wall. But we had a great time and met up with Graham Sumner who took some great photos for us. [attachment=0:25kx31uh]<!-- ia0 CIMG7504.JPG<!-- ia0 [/attachment:25kx31uh]

I had to rush home afterwards and have spent today arguing with a horse. I need a few days to fully understand the event and the spectacle. But it was impressive, moving and exciting. We had a very special time.
[attachment=1:25kx31uh]<!-- ia1 DSC_02579(2).JPG<!-- ia1 [/attachment:25kx31uh]
John Conyard

York

A member of Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.historicalinterpretations.net">http://www.historicalinterpretations.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com">http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com
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#20
Hi

As I never received my tickets for the event I decided that Barcombe hill would be a good vantage point. Well the Romans put a signal station there and they knew a thing or two. It does have a complete panorama from past Vindolanda and along the Stanegate over on the left, to well beyond Housesteads off to the right. A few hundred other people also thought it was a good spot too but fortunately it was well away from the hoards who filled the military road. One thing the organisers failed to foresee was that the lights from the cars would be considerably more than those on the wall! This rather spoiled the effect somewhat and was made worse by the fact that drivers were not allowed to park on the verges of the road.

The lights duly arrived on time but when they reached the wall opposite Barcombe Hill they stopped! Clearly some enterprising Barbarian had decided to spoil the show and many people in particular those with children started to drift away. After a spell of about 15 minutes they started again further along the wall but part of the missing section was never lighted.

One thing I forgot was that being on top of a hill would be both cold and windy so many of my photographs with a hand held camera have far too much camera shake to make them worth posting. Fortunately some members of Comitatus turned up and provided a better photo opportunity close at hand, so I have asked Jasper if he can kindly post some. Like Mike, I too had not realised either that the line of torches would not follow the true line of the wall for its entire length so I agree with him that the advance publicity was a bit misleading.

Nevertheless the event certainly seemed to capture the public imagination and up there on Barcombe Hill there was an atmosphere. I am glad I went.

Graham.
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allan Poe.

"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.

"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
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#21
The BBC has some nice pictures and a story about it.
David J. Cord
www.davidcord.com
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#22
beautifull!

were i can buy that gas-torch?
i want to make the same in my country!
my warrior blog:
http://sardinianwarrior.blogspot.com/
My Sardinian archeology blog: http://archeosardinia.blogspot.com

Alessandro Atzeni. Nuragic, Roman and Medioeval reenactor.

my Family http://memoriaemilites.weebly.com/
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#23
Quote:Graham Sumner took some great photos for us.
And here they are.

[Image: DSC_0294.jpg]

[Image: DSC_0288.jpg]

[Image: DSC_0274.jpg]

[Image: DSC_0272-1.jpg]

[Image: DSC_0257.jpg]

[Image: DSC_0211.jpg]
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#24
Thanks Robert

Just out of interest, in picture 4 just on the skyline to the right of the spear shaft you can see the lights on the wall itself. The same area is in close up in picture 6. The straight line of lights in picture 4 to the right of the right hand soldier are the lights of cars along the Stanegate!

In picture 3 you can just make out the line of lights on the wall which is on the skyline.

In picture 6 the figures are standing on the site of the Roman signal tower built within the ramparts of an Iron Age settlement.

Graham.
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allan Poe.

"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.

"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
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#25
Thanks to both of you. Overall I look better in the dark :lol:

Further pictures can be viewed at:

http://www.comitatus.net/galleryillumwall.html

Our first events gallery of what promises to be a fun year.
John Conyard

York

A member of Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.historicalinterpretations.net">http://www.historicalinterpretations.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com">http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com
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#26
We , as representatives of Britannia , had the honour of being invited to be the ones to carry the torches that lit the first beacon at Segedunum. We had a very good day interacting with the public , as well as being involved with the performance done by a theatre company who travelled from Berlin specifically for the event.
We spent time in and around the museum for the day, carried torches which were passed to a local headteacher who lit the beacon , then watched a spectacular firework display which went on for quite some time. The evening was finished off with a civic reception inside the museum for everyone who had taken part.




[attachment=7:dvdkoiuj]<!-- ia7 phpLzfxWKPM.jpg<!-- ia7 [/attachment:dvdkoiuj]
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