2nd Century Jacuzzi

Well today turned out differently from our original plan. There was a classic car show (with about 700 exhibits!) advertised at Corbridge (about 15 miles west of Newcastle) and the Editor and Son #3 were gracious enough to agree to accompany me there. (I reckoned it would be a good bliphunting ground.) However when we got to about a mile and a half from Corbridge we became part of a traffic jam leading all the way into the town - obviously it was going to be rather popular! Happily it was possible to turn round, give up on the classic cars, and formulate Plan B.

We decided to visit Chesters Roman Fort which was only a short drive from Corbridge. The fort was built in AD 124 to protect Hadrian's Wall at the point where it crossed the North Tyne River. It was excavated in the 19th Century and is very impressive. In particular, the Bath House is said to be one of the best preserved Roman buildings in Britain. It was very elaborate with multiple rooms providing dry heat, wet heat, warm & cold rooms and a cold plunge. However I was most impressed with the Hot Bath shown here - presumably the nearest they came to a jacuzzi!

The "Extra" picture shows part of the hypocaust under-floor heating system in the Commandant's House. They were really very advanced, those Romans!

Here is a flickr link with some more photos of this impressive Roman site. And, especially for blipfriend Pooba from New Zealand, who recently expressed interest in Hadrian's Wall, I'll include a shot of part of the wall itself. Oh, and after leaving the fort we had a walk along part of the South Tyne River and saw an oyster-catcher and a yellow wagtail with a fly in its mouth - so poo may like them too.

All-in-all a great day was had, in spite of the change of plan  :)