2019

We are really grateful for our many Friends of Epiacum (FOE), some who have shared our journey from the start! Back in 2010, we constituted and first launched our organisation, initially as a Limited Company and, more recently, as a Charity – Epiacum Heritage

Lots of people are enthusiastic about what we are doing and (we hope) that if you are reading this, that you are amongst them! But are you a Friend or a FOE?

Our work had progressed year on year – we have run events, increased interpretation , worked with various organisations, successfully run projects, developed research, amongst many other things.  We pride ourselves on being a “developing organisation” , and one which thinks creatively about how best to make the Epiacum site accessible and engaging (which is sometimes a challenge!)

Our  “FOE” organisation has run alongside us and is a great way for people to help us grow. With just over 60 people currently, we are grateful to each and every one for supporting our journey.  In return, our Friends receive regular newsletters, get to hear about events before they are advertised – as well as receiving discounts, where possible – and all for just £10 per year . We are currently looking at ways to further develop this and help people to feel more involved.

If being a FOE is something you feel would be worthwhile, you can join us – it’s simple………….. click on the link here where you can join immediately using our PayPal link

Alternatively, you can send a cheque (made payable to Epiacum Heritage) to us at

Epiacum Heritage ,Castle Nook, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3BG

Looking forward…………. we have lots of news to share over the next few months.

Why not join us today and be amongst the first to know?  Our formal renewal date is 01 June , although we welcome new Friends at any time. But by joining today, you can benefit from a full 12 month membership!

Thankfully the water supply, which started out like my hesitant blogs, has remained in full flow and, as promised, there is more exciting news to share.

Those of you, who have patiently shared our journey over the years, will know of the challenges we have faced in providing visitors with hospitality in what is a rugged and remote landscape. How many times have visitors up on Epiacum needed a nice hot cup of coffee after trudging up that hill we will never know!

However, thanks to a recent successful planning application and (even more challenging) an application to LEADER for grant funding, the farm business has developed some exciting plans for the site which will transform it.

LEADER distribute European funding to support rural farm diversification projects which support the rural tourism  and create local jobs.  The project has been well supported, particularly by The North Pennines AONB , who described Epiacum as “one of the most important sites in the North Pennines.”

So, after months of waiting, TOMORROW (13.05.19) work will begin on a new build Farm Shop & Coffee Shop and a Visitor Information point. Located adjacent to the main road in the car park, it will be able to provide interpretation about the local landscape and the local North Pennine landscape, as well as a warm welcome, toilets and shelter.

Epiacum Heritage will benefit significantly from the development and be able to operate much more effectively on the site to support visitors. We hope that the farm shop will entice new visitors to the site too.

We are hoping to increase the activity around Epiacum significantly as a result and hope that this will be a great success for everyone involved.  It will be a real team effort and we will be promoting Epiacum in a new way going forward.

If you haven’t been on site yet, or you’re an observer but not yet a “Friend of Epiacum” then we look forward to seeing you soon.

Please do be aware that the car park may be disrupted over the next month (May- June) as the groundworks and foundations are put in place! The site will remain open but you may need to be creative over the parking. There is some space up beside the farm entrance or a small lay-by to the South of the car park .

We hope you share our enthusiasm for the plans.  It’s going top be a busy summer ahead but we are excited!

There is no doubt that , in days gone by, the underground springs at Epiacum were much needed. Securing a constant supply of water for an impressive roman bathhouse , as well as providing drinking water for the fort and vicus, was probably something that concerned the Romans a lot.   It would certainly be a consideration when deciding on the actual location of the fort  and, whatever methods they employed to first find and then retain a good supply of water, they were secured by the strategic placing of an altar to Apollo. Underneath the four pillars that supported the altar directly over the spring, coins were placed as a “good luck” offering to keep it running.

The altar (and the coins) were uncovered and removed from the site after an excavation in 1837. It now stands proudly in Newcastle’s Hancock Museum as part of their “Hadrian’s Wall” exhibition. However, in the near two centuries that have passed, the roman spring has continued to run until today. Now used by the farming family and around 80 cows, it provides a constant supply of fantastic tasting water – and, best of all, does not come with a water rate bill or meter!

But things are changing….

Those 80 cows drink some water and, as many a farmer’s wife will tell you, they take priority! Using the dishwasher, taking a shower or even making a cuppa all, on occasion, have to wait until the cows have had their fill!

So, what to do? Put in a bigger tank? Well, that isn’t as simple as it might seem! The tank is below ground and well within the boundary of the Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) so we can’t simply dig down and replace it. Scheduled Monument Consent needs to be applied for and granted on the condition of an archaeological watch, which is very costly (even though we have got friends in high archaeological places).

One thing we DO know about water in the North Pennines is that there is plenty of it, so this week we took action!

Thanks to Lakes & Dales Water and their impressive borehole drill, we have found ourselves a new supply. There may be “moos” of protest but those cows aren’t getting any of THIS water . It may not have been used for roman bathing or drinking but we ARE going to make very good use of it!  You may need to keep following the blog to find out more……. you could call it a drip feed!

The June Landscape Archaeology Masterclass is now full – however if you are interested in future events and masterclasses please fill in this form and you will be the first in the queue our next events:

We were meant to be keeping this secret but the Cumberland Star and Alston Daily Herald ran a piece last night so the Trustees have decided to do a press release about this latest find…

A radar drone study has found a Roman Wine Cellar complete with drinkable wine under Epiacum Roman Fort. The study by Professor Hugh Mustby-Jhokin of the North Cumbria University Department of Antiquity and Technology, using ground breaking non-invasive technology and spectral analysis, first found a hidden room under what would have been the Commandants House known as a Praetorium.

Using the latest non-invasive technology the team of archaeologists were able to probe the hidden structure and to their amazement found stacks of amphora or roman earthenware storage containers.

“When we did a full spectrum vinum-analysis, which is a kind of radar for seeing inside things like amphora, we found that they still contained wine and some of it is still palatable if a little dry after all these years”

Elaine Edgar, on whose farm Epiacum Roman fort stands has found herself with almost 100 bottles of ancient Roman wine. “Well we are putting up a new tea room in the car park at Epiacum this year and we plan on selling small amounts of the wine. It’s more for fun and interest than anything else” Elaine explains. “The wine is quite dry and you wouldn’t want to swallow too much of it”.

As the site is protected by law there won’t be a proper excavation of the wine cellar, which is thought to be unique in the roman world, but the scientists have found a way to syphon off the wine without disturbing the site.

Just so there is no misunderstanding this was an April Fools Joke – It isn’t real folks… I keep getting messages…