So…What Did The Romans Ever Do For Us?
It’s a question asked both in jest and in all seriousness - What did the Romans ever do for us?
Now we have the opportunity to find out, at a special event organised by Topsham Museum.
On Saturday 2nd March a series of renowned experts will discuss ‘The Romans in Topsham and Beyond’ at a special day-long symposium exploring the heritage left by the Roman occupation of Topsham, Exeter and Devon.
“Topsham has been the scene of many of Devon’s most notable archaeological excavations and discoveries. It’s a topic that’s absolutely relevant today - there were digs in recent years on Exeter Road, when work was going on to prepare for the Aldi supermarket” explains Topsham Museum President Rachel Nichols.
“Over the years these excavations have found store rooms, a fortlet and a Roman road between Topsham and Exeter. Our day of learning will be an opportunity to piece together the puzzle of what our area looked like under Roman occupation” she says.
Some of the most respected experts in the field will lead the event on 2nd March.
Speakers include Dr Val Mayfield, the former Professor of Archaeology at Exeter University; Dr John Salvatore, formerly of English Heritage and author of a book on Roman Exeter to be published later this year; and Bill Horner, Devon County Archaeologist and a long-standing expert on excavation and research in our area.
They will be joined by Tom Cadbury, assistant curator of Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum and an advisor to the trustees at Topsham Museum, who will give an overview of the Roman artifacts now on show across the county.
The event is at Topsham Museum, 25 Strand, Topsham, on 2nd March from 9.30am until 3pm with coffee and lunch included, along with an opportunity to see in person a selection of artifacts from the Topsham digs.
Tickets are £33 (all refreshments included) until February 12 and then £35, available online from the Eventbrite website or in person from The Topsham Bookshop. There’s a discounted student charge of just £16.
