By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 09:38, Friday, 29 May 2009

It has been nearly two thousand years since they last came to Carlisle but yesterday an army of Roman soldiers returned to fight a re-enactment battle in the city.

Roman soldiers march past the Crown and Mitre

The event was part of the week-long Living Frontier – which aims to bring the city’s historic quarter alive.

Two thousands years of history was brought to life as hundreds of people stood to attention to watch Romans and Vikings marching along Castle Street and English Street.

The two armies came together outside the bandstand where they were inspected by Emperor Hadrian. He then read out a speech.

Queen Elizabeth the First and her sidekick Francis Drake entertained the crowds with their quirky jokes while oversized Roman centurion Pompous Maximus dragged his devious slave Servillius Wretch along for the ride.

Linda Tuttiett, chief executive of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, said: “The march in Carlisle is undoubtedly one of the highlights of our week.

“We’ve got a proper Roman army of auxiliary soldiers working with us over the next few days which is just brilliant.”

The castle was a stronghold of the Royalists during the Civil War but was under siege by Oliver Cromwell’s Roundheads.

Visitors will be invited inside to see and hear soldiers drilling, manning the gatehouse and walking the walls.

The Living Frontier events are supported by Carlisle Renaissance.

Bryan Gray, chairman of Carlisle Renaissance, said: “We are supporting the Living Frontier events as part of our push to raise the profile of Carlisle’s historic quarter and bring more visitors to the city to experience its rich heritage.”

Today there will be an attempt to repopulate Housesteads Roman Fort with the sort of levels seen 2,000 years ago and capture it on film. The organisers of The Living Frontier want to get about 250 to 500 people into the fort at 5pm for a group photo.

Chesters, which was once a Roman cavalry fort, will have displays of equestrian and falconry skills from the late Roman period tomorrow and Sunday.

From today until Sunday there will be a living history camp including Border Reivers at Birdoswald. The event includes weapon show drills with muskets.

The highlight of the Living Frontier is a 90-minute pageant at Tynedale Rugby Club in Corbridge tomorrow night at 8pm.

Tickets for the pageant cost £10 for adults and £5 for children.

For more information and times visit www.livingfrontier.com

First published at 05:16, Friday, 29 May 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk