Romans return for town festival (From Thisisdorset)

Romans return for town festival

10:04am Monday 14th January 2008 in

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THE Romans are coming to Dorchester with a festival to recapture the days when the county town was called Durnovaria.

Dorchester Town Council, Dorset County Council and the town's Dorset County Museum are working together to hold the event this summer.

Deputy town clerk Steve Newman said: "It's at an early stage but the idea is to raise the profile of the town's Roman sites by having a festival.

"County council is the main mover in this, following improvements to the Roman Town House. Dorchester is rich in Roman heritage and this is a way to link the sites."

He said the festival could be held every other year. But funding - possibly through the National Lottery - was needed to ensure its success.

Members of the town council's management committee are being asked tomorrow to consider applying for an Awards for All grant towards the costs.

Mr Newman said organisers planned to invite a top Roman re-enactment group to appear as one of the highlights of the festival.

He said: "They are in great demand so the date of the festival would work round when they would be available. But we're looking at the end of August."

The festival would focus on Maumbury Rings, managed by the town council, as well as the Roman Town House in the grounds of County Hall and the county museum, which has a renowned collection of Roman artefacts including a fine mosaic floor in the building's Victorian hall.

Mr Newman said: "The festival does not have a name yet but I've no doubt the word Durnovaria will come into it eventually."

A smaller-scale Roman activities day was held at the town house last July.

Organiser Claire Pinder, a senior archaeologist with the county council, arranged activities for adults and children and recreated the domestic side of Roman life.

She said then that it was hoped that events with a focus on Roman Dorchester could be held more often but that extra funding would be needed.

Dorset County Council received a Lottery grant of £50,000 last year for improvements at the Roman Town House. The project includes new lighting and information panels on site, approach plaques, a guidebook and leaflet, audio guide, educational resources and a website.

Archaeological features such as post holes that buried will be marked to show the extent of buildings on the site.