Lost In The Flood

Get It Mapped

There was a large Roman settlement near Shrewsbury at Wroxeter called Viroconium. This soldier was probably stationed there. Have a look at the map and find the Roman city and Bomere pool. How far would the soldier have to travel to meet his sweetheart?

Poetry and Emotion

AE Housman wrote a famous poem about a Roman soldier looking down on Viroconium called On Wenlock Edge. See below to read it. In the poem he calls the city Uricon, but it is the same place. Try writing a poem for the soldier to his sweetheart and send it to the Gallery.

Put It in Writing

The Roman has a scroll in his hand. On it is written a note. Can you guess what it says?

When Did It Happen?

You can find out when and where the Romans landed in Britain by going to this site: http://www.athenapub.com/caesar1.htm. See if you can find anything more about the Roman Empire.

Words and Music Make Pictures

Raph Vaughan Williams put AE Houseman's poem to music. Listen to the midi file and see if you can fit the lyrics to the melody line. What do you think the 'wind blown saplings' look like? Try drawing a picture and sending it to the Gallery.

A SHROPSHIRE LAD - XXXI - On Wenlock Edge On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble; His forest fleece the Wrekin heaves; The gale, it plies the saplings double, And thick on Severn snow the leaves. 'Twould blow like this through holt and hanger When Uricon the city stood: 'Tis the old wind in the old anger, But then it threshed another wood. Then, 'twas before my time, the Roman At yonder heaving hill would stare: The blood that warms as English yeoman, The thoughts that hurt him, they were there. There, like the wind through woods in riot, Through him the gale of life blew high; The tree of man was never quiet: Then 'twas the Roman, now 'tis I. The gale, it plies the saplings double, It blows so hard, 'twill soon be gone: To-day the Roman and his trouble Are ashes under Uricon.

Permission for the use of the above poem was obtained from The Society of Authors as the literary representative of the Estate of A E Housman.