15th December 2012. A bright day. Question: where can we go interesting but not too far away? Answer: the remains of Letocetum, a small Roman town on the Watling Street, near Lichfield. On arrival, we found a brand new & splendid inscribed milestone or honorofic pillar. It celebrates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and was only unveiled on 24th November. For more details, see http://www.visitlichfield.co.uk/content/letocetum-stone . Distances to London, Gloucester, Chester and York are given.

I’ve ‘borrowed’ the English Heritage plaque introducing the site, the start of which as you can see, was early in the Roman Occupation.

The bath house is nearest, and the mansio or hostel for travelers behind it.

It was a good day to be out in the fresh air and sun. Still, I was practically the only visitor and it was fascinating trying to imagine what the place was really like 1,900 years ago. Perhaps it was normally fairly quiet, but would spring into a bustle of life when a party of travelers arrived. Maybe soldiers, or some dignitary or other with an entourage? Or perhaps there was a steady traffic? I don’t mean like today of course, but maybe people arrived – or left – every hour or two?