What the Romans did for you!


Whilst walking our local lanes I became fascinated by the slowly emerging plants  peering through the cold February soil.   The foxglove (Digitalis purperea) is suddenly evident as is the Greater celandine (Chelidonum majus). 

The Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is springing to life too.  The bright yellow pea shaped flower is beginning to stand out against spikey, evergreen leaves.  The Gorse is the only native to the United Kingdom.   As I wander the lanes this week I think about all the plants that have been introduced.

The topography of this country has been greatly affected by imported plants, trees, animals and insects. 

Foxgloves emerging from the damp winter soil

The Babylonians were famous for their hanging gardens; the Egyptians had gardens as a courtyard with the house built around the edge;  the Greeks introduced public parks and roof gardening in clay pots.    The Greeks grew roses and the ancient Egyptians offered the roses to their Gods but it was the Romans who adored them in a way that has never been rivalled.

The Romans took over the practice of pot gardens that included shrubs in tubs set around the courts and along paths.    Elaborate city gardens contained architectural effects and by the third Century BC Rome had eight commons for public games and thirty public parks.

The Romans brought food related ideas to the Britain.   There was a necessity to harvest and produce food on a scale required to supply their army.   The Roman habits of building roads, forts and towns soon changed the face of agriculture.    Small holdings had existed for growing food for personal consumption but gradually changed to larger farms to cultivate produce for market.

Introductions included fruits - apple, cherry, damson and mulberries;  vegetables - carrots, onions, asparagus, cucumber and celery looked after by an olitor;  herbs and spices - garlic, thyme, coriander, dill and fennel;  trees - sweet chestnut, walnuts, almonds, apricots, quince and plums looked after by an arborator.    The Romans clipped hedges and shrubs (topiarius).  The Romans introduced more than 50 new foods and plants.

In Cumbria we have many Roman connections.    

Mirehouse on Bassenthwaite Lake has an apiary and interpretive centre.   In the front of the beehives is an inscription from Virgil's law on nature, the First Georgic written 20 BC that translates as the "the first thing is to find a suitable site for the bees". 

Roman archaeological remains in the forms of altars are now situated in Museums such as Tullie House, Carlisle.    Here  there is a garden representing plants introduced during the four centuries (43 AD to 410 AD) that the Romans occupied Britain.    The excavation of the Roman City of Carlisle has shown extensive deposit of coriander plus grapes, in the forms of raisins, and imported olives. 

There is no known architectural evidence of Roman gardens in Cumbria but they were skilled gardeners and plantsmen.    Each of the Cumbria Forts (more than 20) probably would have had a garden outside the Commander's Quarters and in the Vica (town) to which many plant species were imported.

Roman artefacts were taken from both Plumpton and Brougham Roman Forts, near Penrith, by, novelist and poet, Sir Walter Scott to decorate his garden in Abbotsford, near Melrose, Scotland.

The Edwardian Promenade at "The Banks" Bowness on Solway built in the early 20th Century was stabilised in 2001 and the banks were reconstructed with new pathways, railings, a bridge over the existing well and a wooden Roman style pergola was erected on the bank top.   Creating a Roman theme for the end of the Hadrian's Wall Trail.    

The first evidence of a potter in West Cumberland occurred on the 23rd April 1937.  Wetheriggs Pottery founded by John Schofield and Margaret Thorburn in the mid 19th Century contains old machinery - the blunger, the pubmill, a kiln and the brick stupid.   Early days concentrated in the making of bricks and drainage pipes, roofing tiles but later the pottery became know for domestic items such as mixing bowls and bread crocks.   Clay pots were thrown and sold here, as remnant of the Romans love of pots, but sadly the pottery is now closed.   


     Wetheriggs Pottery, Clifton Dykes





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