CHAPS: Monday 2nd March 2026 'Roman Britain's Missing Legion' Speaker: Dr Simon Elliott.

Tuesday, 10 February 2026 11:56

Dear Members and Friends

We are fortunate to have award-winning historian, broadcaster and Roman specialist Dr Simon Elliott as speaker for our next talk: 'Roman Britain’s Missing Legion'.  Read more about him here:  https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Simon-Elliott/a/3185

Simon has also offered to help us in our quest to discover the site of Collyweston’s Roman fort overlooking the Welland Valley.  His talk will also cover the Roman occupation of the East Midlands, useful context for our forthcoming investigations.

Where exactly was the Roman fort at Collyweston?

We have some idea.  Antiquary William Stukeley visited Collyweston in September 1737 and recorded in his diary that he 'examined the Roman camp, on Collyweston Hill, north of the town.  It is 200 ft square.  The southern rampart is very intire.  The northern partly so. The east and western thrown down and plowed over.  There never were any ditches, because tis rock. It commands a fine prospect.  It was made very probably by P Ostorius AVG. The year after he garrisoned the Antona and Sabrina rivers, as he advanced further up the country.'  (Diary Vol iii, 9.)  (ref: Surtees Society (1885) William Stukeley, Letters and Extracts from Diaries, pp54 and 55). 

Please arrive early as this is likely to be a popular talk.  Doors open 7pm.