Roman re-enactors from the Butser IX Legion visit West Berkshire Museum in Newbury to teach the town about our ancient past

Several Roman re-enactors marched into Newbury to teach the town about our ancient past at a special history event organised by West Berkshire Museum.

Re-enactors from the Butser IX Legion, based near Portsmouth, demonstrated many aspects of Roman life at the Roman family fun day such as clothing, medicine, music, food and drink as well as the armour and weapons of the Roman army.

They brought with them an array of real and replica objects that families visiting the museum could view and handle.

West Berkshire Museum’s learning and participation officer Clare Bromley said: “Thanks to the re-enactors from Butser IX Legion.

“Today’s family fun day at the museum has been a great success with families going away having learned something new about the Roman period.”

As part of the day on Saturday, museum visitors took part in a quest to discover the answers to fifteen questions by quizzing the Roman re-enactors.

On completing the quest, they received a Roman catapult craft kit to take home.

There were also various Roman-themed colouring activities scattered around the museum and, in the museum’s long room, visitors were able to make a Samian ware bowl—a distinctive type of Roman pottery—from air-drying clay.