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The Longthorpe Legion

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The Longthorpe Legion

We aim to inform and entertain visitors to our displays in local museums and other events. The period of occupation extended from c. 44/8 to c. 62.
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We are a Living History group based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, who focus on aspects of the Roman invasion and occupation of Britain in the 1st Century AD. A Legion at Longthorpe

Within the confines of greater Peterborough lies what was once the separate village of Longthorpe. The village is home to Longthorpe Tower, a 14th century fortified manor house which contains some of the finest period domestic wall paintings in Western Europe. Close to the village lies the Thorpe Wood golf course beneath which lies once of the earliest Roman forts in the country. This fort was preceded by a smaller marching camp covering around 5 acres, just to the south of the River Nene at Water-Newton to guard the river crossing. Soon after this, and certainly within 5 years of the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD, a larger fort, initially covering an area of 25 acres, was built further East. It was large enough to house around 5 cohorts of a Roman legion along with auxiliary troops, probably around 3000 in all. From later information, it seems almost certain that the fort was built and garrisoned by Legio VIIII Hispana. It was erected here to govern the local area which was already well established as a major industrial region. The fort itself measured 1,150 feet NW-SE by 950 feet NE-SW (350 x 290 metres) within the ramparts, which were fronted on all sides by a double ditch system and enclosed an area of almost exactly 25 acres (c. 10ha). The gateways of this large fort were centrally placed in the NE and SW sides, but on the NW and SE sides were off-set markedly towards the south-west by a ratio of 3:2; on this evidence it would appear that the fortress faced north-east. The fortress may have been built as early as c.A.D.44, prior to the campaign against the Coritani of Lincolnshire. It is equally probable however, that the fortress was built in response to the uprising of the Iceni c. 48 AD. That the fortress was not in existence at the beginning of the revolt is possibly substantiated by the fact that the revolt was suppressed by the use of auxiliary forces only, implying perhaps that there were no legionary forces nearby. The site was discovered by observation from the air in 1961: no traces now remain on the surface. Excavations between 1967 and 1973 have shown that a fortress with timber buildings, accommodating a legionary vexillation together with auxiliary troops, was succeeded by an 11-acre fort. Crop marks observed from the air at Orton Stanch, 400 m. south-east of the fortress, have led to the discovery of a native farmstead. Excavations there have shown that agricultural activities were intermitted for the period of the occupation of the fortress, the settlement being replaced by a large industrial establishment or works depot involved in pottery manufacture and possibly in bronze-working with clear military connections. The succeeding 11 acre Fort made use of existing buildings but it has not been possible to refine the construction date of the smaller fort within this time span. The smaller fortress measured approximately 660 feet NW-SE by 725 feet NE-SW (c.200 x 220 metres), with a single ditch on all sides but the south-east where part of the original defences were utilized, the original gateway on this side being retained while a simple narrow gateway pierced the new north-eastern rampart. The ditch of the smaller fort measures about 10-11 ft. (c.3.2m) wide. The Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus (Annals; XIV.32) narrates how, during the initial stages of the revolt of Boudicca in the winter of 60/61AD, a detachment of the Ninth Legion under the command of Quintus Petilius Cerialis was severely mauled by the rampaging Britons, the infantry was annihilated and the legionary legate escaped "back to the camp" with only his cavalry intact. Excavations carried out on the Longthorpe site revealed that the defences of the fortress had been reduced in size to that of a large auxiliary fort, and that the work was carried out in a hurried fashion at around this period in history. It seems reasonable to assume therefore, that the "camp" to which Cerialis' cavalry escaped was in fact, the Longthorpe vexillation fortress. By 60 – 62 AD the fort appears to have fallen into disuse and by 65 AD the ninth legion appear to have moved on the found a legionary fortress at what was to become Lincoln. The arrival and then departure of the Roman army had a lasting effect of the surrounding area. To the west a new town had taken root called Durobrivae (Water-Newton) and this settlement became the hub around which much of the industry in the Nene valley flourished. Its location made it a cross-roads with routes going East-West as well as being a vital stop along the great North Road. Another Roman settlement has been identified under the village of Castor. In addition to pottery production, including Nene valley colour-coated ware, the area housed iron smelting, salt extraction, wood and charcoal. The Nene itself provided an easy means of transport of bulk good produced locally.

13/10/2026

Brilliant outcome for the Roman kiln team and the Iron to Empire project continues at Stanwick lakes next year. Prior to the weekend it had also made the BBC News website too: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx30el5mn186o?app-referrer=deep-link&at_bbc_team=editorial

What a fantastic Heritage Build Weekend we've just had!
Our replica Roman kiln has had its first successful firing 🔥, and we’re really pleased with the results...

The kiln fire was lit on Friday, and was tended over the whole weekend. Temperatures reached between 720°C and 850°C, leaving us with a lovely mix of fired pots in a range of colours. A few didn’t quite make it, and some need a little more heat next time, but that’s all part of the learning. The firing has given us lots of insight and great ideas of what to do when we fire the kiln again in 2027.

It was also wonderful to see so many visitors enjoying everything that was going on during our Heritage Build Weekend, from natural dyeing and mosaic making to exploring our Bronze Age-style jetty and watching bronze casting demonstrations.

A huge thank you to our brilliant volunteers, project partners - Udig Excavations, Ancient Craft - Dr. James Dilley, Woodnewton Workshops, The Longthorpe Legion, Earthly Arts Studio and everyone else who came along to be part of it. What a weekend!

We are really excited to see where these projects take us in 2027, keep following us for more updates.

22/09/2026

I have been doing a 'deep dive' into translations this morning. 🤨 For those who are interested, this is what the replica diploma pictured actually says (but there is more, so read on!)

"Imperator Caesar Nerva Traianus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus, (The Emperor Trajan) son of the deified Nerva, Pontifex Maximus, holding tribunician power for the eleventh time, acclaimed *imperator* for the sixth time, consul five times, Father of the Fatherland.
To the horsemen and foot soldiers who served in four alae (Cavalry) and eleven cohorts, namely; the First Ala Spanish Auriana, the First Ala Augusta of Thracians, the Ala of Pious and Faithful Selected Roman Citizens, the Second Ala Flavia, Dutiful and Loyal. The First Cohort of Breuci, The Second Cohort of Raetians, The Third Cohort of Bracari Augusta, The Third Cohort of Thracian Roman Citizens, The Third Cohort of Brittons, The Third Cohort of Batavians (milliaria), The Third Cohort of Gauls, The Fifth Cohort of Bracari Augusta, and the Seventh Cohort of Lusitanians; who are stationed in Raetia, under the command of Tiberius Julius Aquilinius.
Upon the completion of twenty-five years of service and an honourable discharge, their names were inscribed on the roll; the rights of citizenship were granted to them and to their children and descendants."

However, it seems that there is a second page, not replicated, but in the museum in Germany, that says the following:

"...this grant applies to them personally, as well as to their children and descendants. Furthermore, he granted them the right to contract a marriage (valid under Roman law) with the women they had at the time citizenship was conferred upon them, or—if they were unmarried—with the women they might marry later (limited to one wife each). 30 June, under the consulship of Gaius Minicius Fundatus and Gaius Vettenius Severus (107 AD).
This diploma was issued for the Boian Mogetissa, son of Comatullus—a discharged private from the *Ala I Hispanorum Auriana* (commanded by Marcus Insteius Coelenus, son of Marcus, of the Palatina tribe)—as well as for his wife, the Sequanian Verucunda (daughter of Casatus), and his daughter Matrulla. Verified against the bronze tablet affixed in Rome to the wall behind the Temple of the Deified Augustus, near the statue of Minerva."

This lines up with what we know from other diplomas; interesting that his wife and daughter are named. See less

21/09/2026

An excellent day at Stanwick Lakes yesterday. Being mindful of our 'groupies' who turned up again, (I am designing a 'frequent visitor' card), and the need to have something new for them in our display, I have added in this replica diploma, issued during the reign of the emperor Trajan. This is interesting because of the list of Auxiliary Units recruited from a wide range of provinces, including modern France, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Holland, Romania and.... Britain. 😀
The biro points to the 3rd Cohort of soldiers from Brittaninorum; the only time I have seen this on a diploma.
My Smart Glasses worked brilliantly until the battery on my phone expired. The App obviously uses a lot of power. (Note to self; take battery charger to events in future). See less

11/09/2026

Many thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes to me yesterday. You may be surprised to know that among my gifts I was given a name.
Those of you who do Roman re-enactment will be aware that members of RMRS (aka 14th Legion) use the names of real Roman soldiers who served in that unit, taken from inscriptions, as a commemoration of their service.
When I joined the 'old' 9th Legion group, back in June 2013, they were using a different system. Very few inscriptions for the 9th have survived. There is one in the York Museum, for Lucius Duccius Rufinus (Standard bearer) adopted by Neill Turner, but there wasn't one for me, so a back story was created to give me a name. My character was a member of a tribe in Europe who had joined the Roman Army as an auxiliary trooper, took part in the Invasion of Britannia in AD 43, stayed as part of the occupying army and was given full Roman Citizenship on discharge after 25 years service. Retirees would often take the Roman family name of the official who had awarded their citizenship, so I became Marcus Suetonius Martinus.
Not everyone was happy with this, and I knew that some people considered it a fake made up name, even though the process was legitimate. Later, when a volunteer at Peterborough museum joined us, someone wondered if he would now be known as Kevinus, which I thought was a little unkind.
The name has served me well over the last 13 years, and has become accepted, but I have always felt that slight discomfort that it wasn't a 'real' Roman name.
So, imagine my delight when I was contacted by George Everest-Dine who told me that he had found during his research an inscription for a real Martinus - and it fits the back story perfectly.
"Martinus, son of Masclus, and Ingenua, daughter of Ingenuus, had this made for themselves, while living* and for Diastullus, their son, aged 5, and for Amus, son of Junius, aged 2."
My character, now eligible as a full citizen had reenlisted in the 9th Legion during the Boudiccan revolt after his family had been killed at Colchester. Well, I can give them names now.
*There are quite a number of Roman funeral inscriptions set up while the people were still alive. By doing this you could be sure the inscription would be what you wanted - safer than leaving money for someone else to do it, and risk them spending it on something else.

27/06/2026

A few belated pictures from our midsummer event at Stanwick Lakes. We had our first airing for a new Vesta backdrop and had some friends take part in honouring the goddess. We made offering for the fact it was technically too late for Vestalia proper, but thought the goddess wouldn't mind being remembered. For being such an important deity in the Roman pantheon, only having an asteroid named after her seems a little unfair. That said, similar has happened to Minerva, so perhaps, going forward we can bring some of the less well-known parts of the pantheon to the fore.

22/06/2026

In just under a month, on Sunday 19th July, we will be making our second trip of the year up to Yorkshire for the Malton Roman Festival. We get to stay in the bounds of an actual Roman fort that, nearly two thousand years ago, was garrisoned by soldiers of Legion VIIII Hispana. We join up with some fantastic period groups in conjunction with Malton Museum. Come along for a day of fascinating history and entertainment.

21/06/2026

www.stanwicklakes.org.uk/solstice-at-stanwick-lakes/

07/06/2026

This is our display at the Jewry Wall Museum in Leicester where we are this weekend. Come and see us if you are in town, As you see, they have a nice café too!

06/06/2026

Welcome to Stanwick Lakes,
where the adventure lasts all day!

03/06/2026

We will be here this weekend. Come to see us if you can.
https://www.facebook.com/JewryWallRoman

Visit Jewry Wall: A real Roman experience, a 21st Century museum next to Leicester’s 2nd Century Bathhouse inside a 20th Century Grade II listed 60’s brutalist concrete Trevor Dannatt building.

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