Learning all about the Romans was a big deal when I was at school. The area clings desperately to its place in history as being the outpost of the Roman Empire in its superpower days. They only really got as far as here and then pretty much conceded that they were never going to get any further north.

My teacher at Westgate Hill Primary School, Mrs. Matthewson was a real lover of all things Roman. I think she lived in the Tyne Valley somewhere up near Heddon-on-the-Wall and was immersed in the whole history of Hadrian’s Wall and everything that went with it. She was one of my favourite teachers and aside from playing the piano, Roman history was her favourite subject. She was always really lovely to me and I think I was something of a teacher’s pet in her class. She’d actually got hold of some of my brothers’ books and told me how great my family was and how much of a pleasure it was to have us in the school! I don’t think any teacher ever understood me more or encouraged me more than her. She used to talk about trips to the USA and spoke with pride about her son. I think she was a single parent – she never mentioned a Mr. Matthewson and I never delved (being 11, how much delving can you do?).

We took a trip to Vindolanda and Chesters Fort and both of those were alright, but the one that really left me feeling conned was when I went to see the Roman Temple in Benwell. That was years later when I was in Rutherford and I was expecting a whole lot more.

It is located just oposite Rutherford School, a few yards down the hill and along a bit from Handa’s shop (or what was Handa’s shop) and the only time I went there I was amazed by how small and insignificant it was – I felt conned.

Is that it?

All that's left...

Where’s the rest? Weren’t the Romans religious? Too many Gods, so little time?