Pre-digital camera - Agfa film. The formal invasion of Britain began during the reign of Claudius in the year 43AD and four years later the island was claimed as part of the Roman empire and their dominion was gradually extended northwards until the governorship of Agricola when he adopted an aggressive approach.. He rolled the frontier northwards and the last of the northern tribes was defeated in 77AD. Two years later Agricola began the invasion of Scotland. His continued success became a cause of concern to the Emperor Domitian who had fear of potential rivals and Agricola was recalled before the conquest was complete. The Romans subsequently withdrew from Scotland and in 122AD began the construction of a defensive wall across the whole width of England (Hadrian’s Wall). The initial plan was to construct the main garrison forts to the south of the wall but this was soon abandoned in favour of spacing the forts on the length of the wall itself. Chesters (Cilernum) is one such fortress. It was built in 123AD by the western bank of the River Tyne with three of its main gates opening to the north of the wall. Throughout the 300 years of its garrisoned existence it was used as a cavalry base and the three gates enabled a rapid deployment of the troops in times of crisis. Chesters also had another important defensive function, for the continuity of the wall was preserved by the construction of a footbridge across the Tyne to carry the wall, ramparts, and raised foot-walk. Later this footbridge was replaced with something more substantial to additionally carry the military road. On the western bank beside the bridge(s) was the military bath house whose remains at Chesters are amongst the most complete surviving in any part of the Roman Empire. The seven niches here seen are amongst the many puzzles. They dominate a wall of the changing rooms, and are close to the entrance to the baths. The purpose of the niches is unknown. It is conjectured they could have stored the belongings of visitors, but all members of the 500 strong cavalry garrison had use of the facility so the amount of storage seems inadequate – that is unless the baths were set aside for the sole use of senior officers at certain times. Their belongings might have enjoyed special treatment More likely is the possibility the niches were filled with statues of various deities, but history is like that – conundrums everywhere! Cliff.