“In the autumn of 1971 the Rector of Witcombe and Bentham outlined a plan to raise the funds needed for a New Village Hall. The Rector’s idea was to hold a historical pageant to be called Ermine Street Ghosts in July 1972 to show the various historical periods of the parish and I and others were asked if we would be involved and in particular make the kit for eight Roman Soldiers.
Work began in earnest in January 1972 to produce the armour and a working Roman artillery weapon, an Onager, was re-constructed. So it was that eight Roman soldiers, marched out to shoot the Onager many times over the weekend of the 12ᵗʰ/13ᵗʰ July 1972.
Having put so much work into making the armour the group decided that it would continue and on the spur of the moment decide to call itself “ The Ermine Street Guard”.
So began a 52 year journey…………”
Chris Haines - Centurio
