Just because the summer’s in the rear view mirror doesn’t mean that we’re not looking to go on a relaxing, enriching holiday. Staycations have become a bit of a buzzword again, what with the summer weather extending well into October already. This has helped to keep some of Britain’s most interesting locations on the radar.
There’s much to explore for holidaymakers coming to this part of the country, but if there’s one angle that Tameside can tap into the most right now, it’s the surge in interest in history and the ancient world. With plenty of hot spots to target across the borough, it’s easy to access the historical sites of Tameside.
Spotlight on Stories from History
The Brits have long had a fascination with the ancient world and uphold a strong interest in history. You only have to look as far as the collection at the British Museum and its millions of annual visitors to see this in action. This year, however, there seems to have been an uptick in the old stories and settings.
Over the summer, The Odyssey broke records in the UK and Ireland for its promise to retell one of the most famous works of the ancient world. The book The Song of Achilles was re-issued in deluxe edition, and online slot games like The Age of the Gods series remained popular.
It’s not just Ancient Greece that’s been in the spotlight, with TV shows like The East Palace (a dark fantasy set in Korea) and films like The Uprising (based – loosely – on the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt) grabbing attention.
Luckily, there’s plenty of history local to Tameside too.
Tameside’s Historical Hotspots
Tameside has proven to be a key part of the history of the local area and Britain, with evidence of prehistoric human activity and the turn from hunter-gatherer to farmstead societies coming between 2500 and 1500 BC. Estimated to have been under the rule of the Brigantes tribe until the Romans came, there’s a lot to discover here.
Among the most notable is the Cairn at Stalybridge. It’s Tameside’s most complete funerary monument from the prehistoric age, and is currently protected as a scheduled monument. There’s a few other cairns too, with a round cairn at Hollingworthhall Moor.
A bit closer in time to our current day, you can also find a couple of Roman forts in the area. Ardotalia, or the Melandra Roman Fort, was built in 75 AD as part of a series of outposts linking the wider Roman road network to Manchester. There’s also the slightly younger – but only by four years – Castleshaw Roman Forts. These make for quite the sight in the middle of the green fields, with the outlines very clear to see.
Heading even nearer to the present day, there’s Buckton Castle – though don’t expect to find a complete building! You can also find historical remants scattered throughout the area, from stocks at Stalybridge and Longdendale, to the Fairfield Moravian Church from 1765 near Droylsden.
With these and a bunch of listed buildings too, Tameside is a great place to come for a short trip if you’ve found yourself even more intrigued by history this year.