'Victrix', Taberna Close, Heddon on the Wall

Image: © Andrew Curtis Taken: 10 Nov 2018

A life-size sculpture of a Roman Centurion carved from the trunk of a diseased and dying horse chestnut tree by Consett tree sculptor, Tommy Craggs, in October and November 2018, with money raised by a local group, 'Heddon Branches'. The location is on the grass between the shops, Dingle Dell tea-room and the children's nursery Image The old village school on Towne Gate can be seen behind Image The name comes from the Tenth Cohort of the Sixth Legion, Victrix (Conqueror), who are known to have built part of Hadrian's Wall in the Heddon area about 121 AD, as shown on a building stone found in the sector of the Wall in 1751 but now lost. Hexham Courant 1st November 2018: http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/17194247.dying-trees-new-life-as-roman-soldier/?ref=rss Hexham Courant 28th November 2018: https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/17261217.roman-soldier-carves-place-in-villages-history/ "I march alone and gaze afar across these windswept glades for sight of those this wall to breach the hoards who would invade Though far from home I tread this wall with hardships yet untold though days are long and winters cold its beauty in my soul Marching men with boots on earth the sound of thunder brings faint lights from distant fortress guide to shelter winter winds One dawn did break I left this land no lesson more to learn though time had chosen I would leave I vowed I would return And now once more I cast my gaze beyond a distant plain and in this place and from this tree stood proud I shall remain" 'I Am Victrix' by Edmund McGough (displayed in the window of Image) https://web.archive.org/web/20200429152416/https://www.thedellheddon.co.uk/

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