Our team were proud to attend the inaugural Malton Museum Roman festival held this year in July, situated on the local site of Derventio Brigantum (a former Roman fort), in Orchard Field, Malton. 

The Malton Museum team organised a one-day festival jam-packed with activities for the whole family, from mosaic-making and interactive archaeology displays, Roman fiction authors, guided tours of the ancient site and re-enactment displays by Magister Militum and our friends over at Equistry (link to their site here), supported by food and drink vendors from around the local area serving delicious wine and pizza. 

During the day, the MM team put on a living history display of writing and documentation, military equipment, leatherworking, games, metalworking, coin-stamping, and living accommodation (as well as eating and drinking equipment), and took to the arena to deliver a detailed equipment talk of the military panoply of the 4th Century AD. Equistry meanwhile delivered exciting displays of Roman cavalry riding and combat techniques, and the crowds kept coming throughout the day with interesting and pertinent questions. 

With events such as these, the priority is the enjoyment of the audience and, despite the single-day event and weather threatening to become inclement (Jupiter opened the heavens just at the end of the event!), a great time seemed to be had by all. A huge thanks must go to the Malton Museum staff, in particular the incredibly hard-working Louise Lewis (without whom the event would not be possible), for giving us the opportunity to take part. 

Roll-on next year!