Celebrate Roman Britain from a Castle With Wall to Wall History

What could be cooler than celebrating the 1900th birthday of Hadrian’s Wall in an authentic medieval castle, constructed with stones hauled from the famous Wall, thanks to the recycling mentality of medieval builders?

This is what families, couples and individuals can do this year, if they head to Langley Castle in Langley-on-Tyne, Northumberland.  There, the seven-feet-thick walls are said to have been built using parts of the 73-mile-long Hadrian’s Wall, which back then had no preservation order slapped on it!

With so much going on around Hadrian’s Wall in 2022, Langley Castle is the perfect base for your enjoyment of Roman culture.  Located just a short drive from Hadrian’s Wall –  a landscape feature viewable in the distance from the castle’s top during a daily Battlements Tour – you can hop to and from different Wall locations as you please, returning for a fabulous dinner, luxurious night’s sleep or even glorious afternoon tea if you get back early.

Three of the main locations for 2022 events along Hadrian’s Wall – Chesters Roman Fort, Corbridge Roman Town and Vindolanda – are just a 14-17 minute drive away from Langley Castle.  Also close at hand (18 minutes) is the iconic Sycamore Gap, as pictured in Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood adventures, whilst Housesteads Fort is 15 minutes away and Cawfields quarry, from where you can gain a great view of the infamous Vallum ditch on the landscape and see the remains of a Roman milecastle, is just a 19-minute drive.  Many other Roman places are just a stone’s throw away.

To bring all of this Roman history to life, you can book a ‘Roaming with the Romans’ tour right from Langley Castle’s door, enjoying whatever duration of tour suits you best, in the company of costumed historical interpreters from tour company, Ancient Britain.  Handling helmets and weaponry, feeling the weight of chain mail and hearing what the Romans and Celts would have for their supper will make you even hungrier to explore Roman history.

And, if your love of history then knows no bounds, you can top it up with the story of Langley Castle’s own extraordinary past, using the free download ‘Hairy History’, to be found in the History for Kids section at www.langleycastle.co.uk

Choose to stay in one of 9 rooms inside Langley Castle’s amazing walls, where you may have a four-poster bed on which to rest your head, or a contemporary feature such as a whirlpool bath or sauna, or go for more relaxed accommodation in the converted stable block, Castle View.  Either way, you can enjoy a sumptuous Northumbrian breakfast each morning and can choose to dine in either the 2AA Josephine restaurant or the drawing room, with its shining chandeliers, amazing raised window seats and roaring log fire.

Rooms inside the castle are graded as either Feature or Deluxe, whilst the Castle View accommodation ranges from ‘standard’ to ‘suites’.  Castle Lodge is another option, if you fancy even more privacy and your own little haven in the grounds.

When not exploring Roman history, you can wander the 10-acre grounds at Langley, rustling through the woodlands or strolling the manicured lawns.  

Stays cost from £95.00 B&B per person, per night in Castle View and from £150.00 B&B pppn in the castle, inclusive of Northumbrian breakfast. Head to www.langleycastle.co.uk to book.                    

ENDS

Press calls: Jane Hunt, Catapult PR, 01253 446925 – jane@catapultpr.co.uk

Notes to Editors

1. Roaming with the Romans tours can be booked by contacting Ancient Britain https://www.ancientbritain.org   The experiences range from two-hour tours, to full day extravaganzas.  Tours start at a price of £30 per person and children have a discount of 25%.

2. Some events taking place this year are:

Hail Hadrian – Chesters Fort – 23-24 July, 2022.  

Blockbuster series event allowing you to experience Roman life through re-enactments, Roman artillery, archery and cavalry shows.  Go to sword school, visit the armour tent and try to become a Roman soldier.

Roman Falconry at Chesters Fort – July 26 & 27 and August 13 & 14

Discover why birds were so important to the Roman belief system and see some birds of prey up close.

Night Attack, Chesters Fort – August 27 and 28

See a dramatic re-enaction of a night attack at Chesters Fort, in this truly immersive experience.

Vindolanda Excavations - March 28 – September 23

See live excavations taking place at Roman Vindolanda, talk to the archaeologists, learn more and watch as artefacts emerge from the ground.

Vindolanda, Romans Return - August 27-28

The Ermine Street Guard will celebrate its 50th anniversary at Vindolanda with dramatic military displays, a Roman camp and Roman soldier school.

Festival of Saturnalia, various Wall locations – December 17 to 23

See towns and villages celebrating the Roman festival of Saturnalia in their own tribute to Hadrian’s Wall

3. Corbridge Roman Town

Corbridge Roman Town features the remains of a Roman garrison and is the only place in Britain where you can walk along the original surface of a Roman high street, flanked by the excavated remains of granaries, a fountain, Roman markets, workshops and temples.  You can also head into the museum and see the famous Corbridge Hoard, one of the most significant Roman finds in Britain, including weapons, personal possessions and armour.  Don’t forget to seek out the famous Corbridge lion carving.

4. Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum

These two attractions can be visited for the price of one ticket and offer the opportunity to see some of the most exciting Roman finds in Britain, including the Vindolanda Tablets, ‘postcards’ from Roman times, voted Britain’s Top Treasure.  Additionally, there is a special exhibition this year, due to a temporary loan of some of the most sensationally well-preserved Roman army equipment form private collection.  This includes copper-alloy infantry and cavalry cheek pieces, a face mask and helmet visor, statuettes of the Roman God of War, Mars, and a complete copper alloy helmet with the owner’s name inscribed on it, dating from the 1stCentury AD.

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Editors notes

Langley Castle, built in 1350, is located in Langley-on-Tyne, Northumberland and is one of the few authentic, fortified medieval castles in England. It has a rich history, with strong links to Jacobite rebellions, is located just a stone's throw from the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall and boasts features including battlements, seven-feet-thick walls, window seats set into the walls and the best example of medieval garderobes in Europe. It is one of the most exquisite wedding venues in the north and also offers a wide range of options when it comes to exclusive use, with the castle being available for weddings, family celebrations, Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs, D&D-style events and a wide variety of corporate functions.