The River Ribble at Ribchester

The Ribble at Ribchester

St. Wilfred, Ribchester

St. Wilfred, Ribchester

Bremetennacum

The fort at Ribchester (Bremetennacum) was garrisoned by Asturians (from northern Spain) and later by Sarmatians (from modern Hungary).  These were cavalry units (and I'm guessing the ethos- out on the frontiers of Empire- must have been comparable to that of the Wild West forts in John Ford's cavalry movies). Later it became a settlement for veterans- and the local administrative centre.  Judging by some of the carved stone on display it must- in its later phases- have been quite a swanky place.

According to a tradition first recorded in the 16th century, "It was written on a wall in Rome that Ribchester is as rich as any town in Christendom."

This is the museum's most spectacular possession- the gravestone of an Asturian cavalryman. 

Asturian Cavalryman

A close up of the Asturian cavalryman