Castrum - Tour of Ilkley's Roman Fort

This year's Heritage Open Days theme is 'Routes, Connections, Networks'. Join local expert John Cockshott on guided tours around the perimeter of the fort's outer walls, as he discusses Olicana's importance as a crossing point for the rest of the country.

The hour-long walking talk starts at Ilkley Manor House at 11:00am, where John will highlight the main Roman routes through the town, the strategic reasons for the fort's location, and the intriguing debate about its Latin name! After the walk, explore Ilkley Manor House's remarkable Roman collection, featuring the renowned Verbeia altar stones and a tombstone dedicated to the Romano-British woman, Vedica. This tour is free, but booking is essential. N.B. The Roman artefacts are located on the ground floor.

The timings are approximate. John will give an introductory talk before the walk, using a model fort and map as visual aids to explain what he will be discussing in more detail. There will also be time to ask questions.

Photos © 2019 Laura Mate.

Host or Publisher Ilkley Manor House Trust