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08
Jun 2021
Last Updated: 08/06/2021
Vineyard mural celebrates Aldborough's rich Roman history
Aldborough was the administrative centre of the Roman empire in northern Britain, which inspired Dunesforde Vineyard owner Ian Townsend to commission the huge mural. It features almost 1,400 people, 86 horses, 18 dogs, a tiger fighting a gladiator in the amphitheatre and a vineyard.
The owner of a vineyard near Aldborough has commissioned an 18-square metre mural that recreates how the village looked 1,800 years ago in Roman times.
Aldborough, which is near Boroughbridge, was the administrative centre of the Roman empire in northern Britain, with a population of 3,000, which was similar to York at the time.
Archaeologists found a tablet in the Roman fort of Vindolanda at Hadrian’s Wall, which referred to wine in production at Aldborough.
It inspired Ian Townsend, the owner of Dunesforde Vineyard, to commission what he believes to be the first-ever painting of what Roman Aldborough is thought to have looked like.
Dunesforde Vineyard, which was created in 2016, produces 3,500 bottles of white, rose and sparkling wines a year.
Read more:
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Working in acrylics, Leyburn artist Lynn Ward took six months to complete the work, which spreads across six boards.
It features almost 1,400 people, 86 horses, 18 dogs, a tiger fighting a gladiator in the amphitheatre and a vineyard.
Mr Townsend hopes the artwork will attract visitors to the vineyard all-year round.
"Everyone involved has worked hard to ensure that this portrayal is as accurate as possible.
"Attracting visitors to your vineyard is relatively easy during the summer. But tempting people at other times of the year can be more of a challenge. We hope this wonderful work of art, along with our other wine-related artefacts, will help attract people all year round.
“Aldborough, or Isurium Brigantum, to give it its Latin name, was an incredible place. It had an amphitheatre, a forum, heated baths, a temple and we have reason to believe there was a vineyard there too."
According to Mr Townsend, Roman wine was very different to what is produced today.
He added:
"They added a lot of honey so the wine was sweet, and some would water it down. Drinking wine instead of untreated water meant there was less chance of becoming ill. Modern technology would suggest that today’s wines would be superior in quality."
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