A FLINTSHIRE-based heritage and community park is set to host legions from across Europe in an epic display of authentic Roman life. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌

Park in the Past, which is tucked away on the Wrexham/Flintshire border, says it is thrilled to be hosting a re-enactment for the ages.

The park's full-size fort will be the centre point for Roman auxilieries to establish their authority and make camp for two weekends of captivating performances.

Taking place between May 27 and June 4, the re-enactments will include fort construction, battle training and ancient living.

The flagship fort, based in Hope, is the only full-scale reconstruction in Britain of a first-century Roman military garrison.

Its ongoing construction has inspired this festival to re-create the day-to-day activities of Roman soldiers.

Visiting re-enactment groups from across Europe will establish a period military camp, taking on daily tasks such as building the ramp defences and creating a bespoke display of combat training and camp maintenance activities.

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The fort was originally created to explore archaeological investigations and test experimental techniques in order to gather deeper understanding of Roman practices.

Project champion Paul Hurston said: "So much has already been gleaned from the construction so far as we've had to innovate and solve problems. The majority of materials have been, as then, foraged from our landscape.

"Creating things that have no archaeological evidence to copy. This leaves us imagining ourselves under threat in enemy territory. How they would have felt and solved issues of defence, water, sanitation and drainage, food and cooking. It all adds up to an exceptionally broad set of skills for us to learn."

Roman auxiliary re-enactors from Britain and Europe will provide unique insights into how multiple cultures unified to create a diverse force of fighting troops.

The Leader:

An example of the battles which will take place during the re-enactments.

All infantrymen on site will be in full Roman auxiliary or legionary attire and will live on site as legitimate historical characters.

Tickets to the event can be found here.

For the younger visiting warriors, a programme of special experiences will include a ‘kids’ army’ to introduce Roman army training, a chainsaw demonstration to create a statue of Minerva, ancient painting exercises and an art exhibition from renowned artist Graham Sumner. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The park site will still be open to the general public during this event, including lake facilities. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​