Find out more about the Antonine Wall and the Frontiers of the Roman Empire during Big Roman Week 2022.
It’s running across Falkirk district from September 17-25, 2022 AD. Events are listed below.
All the events are free of charge, thanks to the support of partners. Check if you need to book a place (or get tickets in advance). See individual listings for details.
Please note that listings may be subject to late change. If you are travelling from a distance, check with the venue before the event.
Remember you can get updates on Twitter @bigromanweek and @kinneil
Programme of events – Big Roman Week 2022
ALL WEEK – ROMAN DISPLAYS in Bo’ness Library, Scotland’s Close, Bo’ness, EH51 0AH. You can also see Roman exhibitions at Callendar House, Callendar Park, Falkirk, FK1 1YR; and Kinneil Museum, Kinneil Estate, Bo’ness, EH51 0PR. For opening times, visit https://bit.ly/bonesslibrary and https://bit.ly/falkirkmuseums
SATURDAY/SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 AND 18 – DOORS OPEN DAYS IN FALKIRK DISTRICT. Close to the line of the Antonine Wall you’ll find historic buildings, wonderful open spaces and steam trains. Kinneil House, the Falkirk Steeple and the Museum of Scottish Railways are taking part in this year’s festival. For details, visit https://bit.ly/doors-open-falkirk2022
( You can book places on free Kinneil House tours on the Historic Environment Scotland website at https://bit.ly/kinneilhouse2022 )
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 – WALK THE WALL: KINNEIL. Join the Step Forth group for a health walk around historic Kinneil Estate in Bo’ness, including a stop-off at the remains of the park’s Roman Fortlet. Free. Just turn up. Meet outside Kinneil Museum at 2 p.m. The walk should last around 1 hour. www.kinneil.org/fortlet
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 – GONE TO POT! Bonnybridge Library delivers a clay-making workshop for youngsters. Make your own Roman themed “artefacts”! Library staff will also have a box of pottery from Callendar House museum for children to touch and hold. The event will start at 4 p.m. and run until 5 p.m. Free. To book a place, please contact Bonnybridge Library on 01324 503295. https://bit.ly/bonnybridgelibrary
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 – FREE FILM SHOW: THE MARK OF ROME. How one of Britain’s best Roman finds was copied using hi-tech tools and reinstalled close to where it was found in Bo’ness. Running time approx. 1 hour. Upstairs, Bo’ness Library, Scotland’s Close, Bo’ness, EH51 0AH. From 2.30 p.m. No need to book, just turn up. All welcome. https://bit.ly/bonesslibrary
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 – TALK: RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK IN FALKIRK DISTRICT. Join historian Geoff Bailey at this Falkirk Local History Society event. At Falkirk Trinity Church, off Falkirk High Street. Starts 7.30 p.m. No need to book, just turn up. https://bit.ly/falkirk-history-talks
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22: TALK: THE BRIDGENESS TABLET IN COLOUR. Ten years ago, in September 2012, an amazing Roman replica was unveiled in Bo’ness. Since then, the sandstone Bridgeness Tablet (or Slab) has drawn tourists to the area. But did you know the original Roman distance sculpture from Bo’ness was richly coloured? Dr Louisa Campbell from the University of Glasgow gives an insight into how the tablet once looked – and will talk about her work to analyse remnants from Scotland’s Roman frontier. Upstairs at Bo’ness Library, Bo’ness, from 7.30 p.m. Free, no need to book. Just turn up. The talk is being supported by Bo’ness Community Council. https://bit.ly/bonesslibrary https://bit.ly/aw-in-colour
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 – TALK: DIGGING UP HISTORY AT MUMRILLS. Historian Geoff will discuss the latest archaeological excavations at Mumrills Roman Fort site, on the outskirts of Laurieston by Falkirk. Mumrills was the largest fort on the Antonine Wall. Geoff’s talk will be upstairs at Bo’ness Library, Scotland’s Close, Boness, from 2 p.m. No need to book, just turn up. All welcome. https://bit.ly/bonesslibrary
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 – GONE TO POT! Bo’ness Library delivers a clay-making workshop for youngsters. Make your own Roman themed “artefacts”! Library staff will also have a box of pottery from Callendar House museum for children to touch and hold. Historian Geoff Bailey will also be popping in to lend his expertise. The event will start at 4 p.m. and run until 5 p.m. Free. To book a place, please contact Bo’ness Library on 01506 778520. https://bit.ly/bonesslibrary
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 – KIDS’ EVENT – ROMAN LEGO MEGA-BUILD! Help library staff build the Antonine Wall out of Lego. Suitable for children aged five and over. At Bo’ness Library, Scotland’s Close, Bo’ness, EH51 0AH, from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. To book a free ticket, contact the library on 01506 778520. https://bit.ly/bonesslibrary
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 – BIG ROMAN DAY AT KINNEIL. Watch out for further details of the scheduled return of Kinneil Estate’s popular free annual Roman Day, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and organised by the Friends of Kinneil. Family fun activities are planned to include:
- a Roman encampment starring the Antonine Guard re-enactment group
- displays from the Rediscovering the Antonine Wall project, including Roman crafts and artefacts
- Britannia XIV re-enactment group joining in with their medieval displays
- A walk to Kinneil’s Roman fortlet (leaves Kinneil Museum at 2 p.m.)
Historic Kinneil House, built next to the Antonine Wall, will also be open for free tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Book via the Historic Environment Scotland website at https://bit.ly/kinneilhouse2022 )
The postcode for Kinneil House and Estate is EH51 0PR. Check for the latest details on this event at www.facebook.com/kinneil and www.twitter.com/kinneil
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 – WALK THE WALL: KINNEIL TO CARRIDEN ROMAN FORT. Join Friends of Kinneil guide Adrian Mahoney on a walk from historic Kinneil Museum to Carriden Roman fort site in Bo’ness, taking in the coastal John Muir Way. En route, walkers will visit the Roman-inspired Gate Guardian sculpture at Kinneil, the Bridgeness Tablet Roman replica and the site of a Roman camp near the Drum housing estate. Five miles one way. The walk will leave the Museum at 1.30 p.m. Free, no need to book, just turn up. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Please wear suitable clothing – preparing for all weathers – and good footwear.
Big thanks
This year’s Big Roman Week has been coordinated and promoted by The Friends of Kinneil with the support of partners including Falkirk Council, Bo’ness Community Council and Historic Environment Scotland. Thanks to everyone who has supported this year’s festival.
Discover more about the Antonine Wall and get useful links on the Kinneil website
PLEASE NOTE
Following news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – and confirmation that her funeral will take place on September 19 – no Big Roman Week events will take place on that day, as a mark of respect.
A new Antonine Wall film, originally due to be screened at the Bo’ness Hippodrome on that date, will now premiere in October.
Big Roman Week 