The sixth episode of this ten-part series produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy about the building that people have constructed over the centuries to help themselves work, live and enjoy themselves. In this edition John explores how castle, forts and other defensive building built across the region from the Roman’s through to the Normans were made to show power and strength and away to help subjugate an unwell local...

The sixth episode of this ten-part series produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy about the building that people have constructed over the centuries to help themselves work, live and enjoy themselves. In this edition John explores how castle, forts and other defensive building built across the region from the Roman’s through to the Normans were made to show power and strength and away to help subjugate an unwell local population. Over a montage of John Grundy wearing various costumes and maps of the region the opening credits. Title: Grundy Goes… On the Offensive Walking with purpose towards and then around the ruins of Norham Castle in Northumberland, presenter John Grundy tells the tale of a 14th century knight called Marmion who foolishly attacked the castle by himself and was thrashed by the Scots under Robert the Bruce. Walking though Marmion’s Gate John explains the point of the story was to ‘introduce the notion that the Northeast was always a harsh place to live and has been left with a richer legacy of castles and defensible buildings than an other part of Britian.’ A montage of various castles and defensive buildings across the region with John asking where did they come from, why were they needed here? Another montage of Hadrian’s Wall with John explains that it was the Romans who first built proper solid castles in the Northeast providing a legacy of defendable buildings. Inside Hexham Abbey the tombstone of Flavinus, a young Roman cavalry standard bearer who died at Tynedale around 98AD. Standing beside it is John who explains that carving on the gravestones shows exactly what the Romans were doing in the north, crushing the cowering northern barbarians bringing them under the control of Rome. Flavinus, explains John, was one of first Romans in the north and like they had done everywhere else when they arrived at new places, they built roads and forts. Over a montage of the remains of the Roman fort and town of Corsopitum near Corbridge in Northumberland, John provides details on its history as well as its importance being located on a junction of Dere Street, a major Roman road running north south. Following the line of Dere Street today is the A68 with cars travelling off into the distance. John believes the Roman’s intended to keep on going and expand their empire. However, it suddenly comes to an end at Hadrian’s Wall, now the northern edge of their empire. John asks why? Standing beside a whiteboard with empty chairs in front of him is Centurion I. Grundius of the XX Legion who talks about a wall that Emperor Hadrian has asked him and his men to build. Using the whiteboard Centurion Grundius provides details of the type of wall to be made with milecastles, turrets and to the north of the wall a ‘good deep ditch’. Sitting in the audience is John Grundy who asks Centurion Grundius the question why does Emperor Hadrian want a wall building? Centurion Grundius looks confused and doesn’t reply. Arriving at Milecastle 37 immediately west of Houseteads Roman Fort John walks around it providing details of its function as a gateway to the north and south, a frontier control post. Standing in the archway he is impressed with quality of the stonework, but looking at the wall he asks why isn’t it 10ft wide as was originally intended? Returning to Centurion Grundius he explains that the reason is for ‘economy’ it has been decided that in places the wall doesn’t need to be more than 6ft wide. Grumbles from the audience as the foundation has already been built to the original 10ft specification. Walking along a section of wall at Plaintrees John points out that this is a clear example of this change of plan with a 10ft wide broad foundation and a narrower wall built on top. From a helicopter flying over Whin Sill is Hadrian’s Wall passing around Sycamore Gap and its iconic Sycamore Tree that stands in a dramatic dip in the landscape. Also Nearby is Milecastle 39, also known as Castle Nick. The foundation of one of the turrets along the wall changes to John walking around the remains of another inside a fort where he provides details on its construction from ‘beautifully cut sandstone blocks.’ John also points out that this stone is instantly recognisable being used in the construction of hundreds of nearby buildings and structures including field walls, church and the crypt inside Hexham Abbey where the distinct diamond shape tooling can be clearly seen. Standing in the remains of Milecastle 42 at Cawfields John explains why it was probably the ‘dafter place on the frontier’ to put such a structure as it is atop a cliff with another entranceway only a few yards away. John ends by saying that the Roman’s must have the most disciplined people imaginable. Returning once again to Centurion Grundius he provides details on another change in the plan and the decision to build forts along the wall every five miles. Sitting in the audience John Grundy explains that this change of mind saw the building of fifteen forts along the wall. Heading into the commercial break an aerial of one of those forts at Housesteads. Title: End of Part One Part Two The continuation of the aerial over Houseteads Roman Fort with John Grundy explains this is probably the best known and probably the most exciting of these forts. As he come into the fort via its east-gate he walks past some of the building admiring the quality of the workmanship heading into the headquarters building and providing details of how impressive it would have looked. He comes to stand and look down from the Tribunal before walking into the strongroom cum chapel where the regimental standard and cash box would have been stored. A montage of other building in the fort including hospital, granaries, commanding officers house and the lavatories with John providing details on a flushing system. Walking along the wall outside the fort John admires the impressive defences with details being provided over the aerial of the site again. Standing beside one of the double archway entrances to Housesteads John points out some if its features including two guard towers either side of the entrance. He asks wouldn’t it be wonderful to envision it as it really was. An animation of the reconstructed gateway at Arbeia drops into the spot at Housesteads changes the gateway itself at South Shields with John walking along the parapet and walkway explaining that while there is no proof that Hadrian’s Wall had such things, it seems likely they did exist. Over a montage of both the fort and sections of Hadrian’s Wall John explains why he believes these forts were needed, as if they were worried about what was going on further north. Returning to Centurion Grundius who has become frustrated with all these changes and now been asked to add a second 12ft ditch to the southside of the wall called a vallum. At Benwell on the outskirts of Newcastle John walks through a section of vallum pointing out the special causeway that allowed controlled entry and exit north and south and built opposite a gate of a fort and protected by an arch or gateway. A phantom car ride along a section of the B6318 Military Road in Northumberland near Housesteads as it cuts through a section of vallum. As John walks over the vallum, onto the embankment and across the road built on top of the wall and then down into the ditch on the northside, he compares it all to the Berlin Wall, a cleared military area designed to keep those on the outside out and those on the inside in. John then explains his theory that the Romans were having problems with the natives on both sides of the wall. Walking around the remains of a hillfort and wearing a t-shirt that reads ‘Romans Go Home’ is a Brigantian, a member of the local tribes who explains that the Brigantes were very different from the tribes in the south that the Romans were more use to dealing with, less settled and more likely to fight amongst themselves. Attempting to sneak up on him is another Brigantian carrying a spear who collapses on the ground in exhaustion as he tries to traverse all the defensive ditches and embankments. Both he and John provide details on the construction of this multi vallum or ditch fort and how the Roman’s dealt with the locals who were in the way of the wall. Near to the wall the remains of Brigantes homes built between the wall and the vallum that had been cleared. As the helicopter once again flies along the remains of the wall and over Housesteads, John has some theories on why he believes the wall was built but putting them all together and you get something quite extraordinary. Leaning against a section of a Hadrian’s Wall at Corsopitum John explains that it was possibly whitewashed and would have been to the locals both gigantic and alien built as a symbol of power and a statement of authority. Returning to Norham Castle a montage of the gigantic keep at the centre of the castle with John giving a history of it and pointing out some if its architectural features that represent both strength and power. Sitting at a long table inside John plays as Hugh de Puiset, Bishop of Durham who re-built the castle between 1153 and 1195. He is asked by John why he built it, he replies to protect the borders from the Scots and to impose his authority as a Norman invader upon the less than happy locals. Over a montage of Norham and other Norman castles in the region John explains that like the Roman’s before them the Normans built castles as instruments of subjection, as symbols of power, strength and of oppression. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Title: With thanks to English Heritage, National Trust Credit: Camera Mike Parker Sound Paul Graham Dubbing Mixer John Cook Electrician Ken Hird Costume Tom Robson Graphics Alan Davidson Title Music John Cook Production Assistant Eileen Brown On-line Editor Howard Beebe Director / Producer Roger Burgess End title: Tyne Tees Television © 1996