Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort is preparing to reopen for the 2022 season

23 March 2022

The Lost Fort

UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort, is preparing to reopen to the public on Monday 28 March for its 2022 season with a brand-new pop-up exhibition.  

Entitled ‘The Lost Fort’, the exhibition will explore tantalising evidence of a Hadrianic period fort in South Shields that predates the excavated remains of the stone fort of Arbeia, built about the year AD 163. Hadrian was the Roman emperor from AD 117 to 138, and this exhibition forms part of the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 festival, celebrating 1900 years since the building of Hadrian’s Wall began in AD 122. 

During the summer months visitors can also expect a varied programme of fun, family friendly events on offer at the fort, including: Boudicca: The Wheelabouts - an interactive event involving puppetry, sculpture and performance, Roman cavalry, infantry and civilian living history displays, and music performances. More information will be released in coming weeks.  

Geoff Woodward, Manager of North & South Tyneside Museums for Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, said: “We are delighted to reopen Arbeia for the 2022 season with this new ‘Lost Fort’ pop-up exhibition - which is part of the fantastic year-long Hadrian's Wall 1900 festival. The elusive remains of the first Roman fort at South Shields, known to exist from scattered pieces of archaeological evidence, presents an intriguing and captivating story!”  

Councillor Joan Atkinson, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council with responsibility for Culture and Leisure, said: “It is exciting to see Arbeia reopening for the 2022 season. 

“Arbeia is a brilliant cultural and educational attraction that gives a fascinating insight into Roman Britain and the Roman occupation in South Tyneside. 

“This new pop-up exhibition is particularly intriguing as it explores a structure that predates Arbeia and helps us to discover more about the important part the fort played in Hadrian’s Wall.  

“Visitors are sure to enjoy a great day out while getting a real sense of what it would have been like on the site around 1,900 years ago.” 

Also on offer at the fort are free audio tours from GeoTourist, a personal tour guide to be used on the visitor’s smartphone. The GeoTourist app supplies three tours based on the visitor's exact location at Arbeia. The tours include an introduction to the fort, information about the home of the Commanding Officer and who he lived with, and how the soldiers at the fort would have lived, cooked, and kept their equipment. 

Entry to the fort remains free, visitors can enjoy the excavated grounds and see some of the finest collections of Roman finds along Hadrian's Wall. 

Visitor are also encouraged to bring their own picnics and other refreshments to enjoy on the spacious lawn or in the picnic area. Arbeia also has a dog friendly policy. 

For full details of opening times, events, and facilities available, please visit the website www.arbeiaromanfort.org.uk