22 May 2025

This summer, Northampton Museum & Art Gallery invites visitors to discover the thrilling world of Roman gladiatorial combat with the arrival of Gladiators of Britain, a major touring exhibition developed in partnership with the British Museum and Colchester and Ipswich Museums.

The exhibition explores the history and cultural significance of gladiatorial games in Roman Britain and will be on display from 24 May to 7 September 2025. The free exhibition brings together 25 significant objects from the British Museum and Colchester Museums collections, alongside important local artefacts that highlight the Nene Valley's rich Roman heritage. It tells the compelling story of the gladiators who fought and died for public entertainment across Britain during the Roman occupation.

Occupying Britain for over 350 years, the Romans introduced many aspects of their culture including gladiatorial fights for public entertainment. The events of the amphitheatre, with its wild beasts and enslaved fighters, are one of the most enduring aspects of Roman culture that still capture the public imagination today.

Gladiators of Britain will look at the social position of enslaved fighters, who were both vilified and admired as the celebrities of their day. Considered as infamis in Roman law and society, they were excluded from having the rights of other citizens. Visitors will also find out about the many different classes of gladiator and how they were ranked, including beast-fighters known as bestiarii, who clashed with predators including lions and bears.

Although no local amphitheatre has been discovered in Northamptonshire, archaeological evidence reveals that the region's wealthy inhabitants were fascinated by gladiatorial spectacles. The Nene Valley, extending from the hills of Northamptonshire to Peterborough, was an area of considerable Roman prosperity, with profitable industries in pottery production and metal working. The Romans displayed their wealth by constructing luxurious villas throughout the area, with over twenty possible villa sites identified along the valley. These villas featured painted walls, decorative mosaics, underfloor heating, and bath houses - all hallmarks of Roman luxury.

“We are delighted to welcome this prestigious exhibition to Northampton Museum & Art Gallery. Gladiators of Britain offers a unique opportunity for our visitors to explore an often-overlooked aspect of our area’s Roman heritage.

“The exhibition highlights the cultural significance of gladiatorial combat and entertainment in Roman Britain, while showcasing remarkable objects that connect us to our local past. The Nene Valley's prosperous Roman history comes alive through these artefacts, revealing how our county’s wealthy inhabitants embraced Roman culture and spectacle."

Cllr James Petter, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure at West Northamptonshire Council

The exhibition will showcase four exceptional objects discovered in the Nene Valley that demonstrate the enduring local interest in amphitheatre spectacles over three centuries:

Decorated glass vessel (AD 200-400)
Glass fragments from a luxurious beaker were discovered in one of the bath houses at Whitehall Villa, near Nether Heyford. The gladiator depicted is of the secutor class, recognisable by his smooth round helmet with small eye holes. Another fragment with a loin cloth indicates a second gladiator, perhaps a retiarius. This traditional opponent of the secutor fought with a trident and weighted net. The high-quality drinking vessel was probably made in the Rhineland and imported to Roman Britain.

Clasp knife handle from Piddington (AD 175–300)
Archaeological excavations at Piddington Villa have been taking place since 1979. Evidence has revealed that the site was occupied from the first century AD, for about three hundred years. Clasp knives were common tools in the Roman world and often had decorative handles made of bone, ivory and bronze. Depictions of gladiators were frequent, showing us how their bodies were objectified and commodified both in and outside of the arena.

Pottery vessel featuring a gladiator (AD 275–325)
Very few vessels made in Roman Britain decorated with gladiators have survived. Although the figure on this jar is interpreted as a gladiator, he carries a large round shield decorated with a boss, similar to those used later by the Roman army.

Pottery vessel featuring amphitheatre scenes (AD 175–225)
Similar to the Colchester Vase, the exceptionally decorated Peterborough pot records two scenes from the amphitheatre: a gladiator combat and a venatio event with a leopard and acrobat. Pots like this may have been made to order by some of the Nene Valley’s wealthy villa owners, to show off their love of the games.

Key objects loaned by the British Museum and Colchester and Ipswich Museums will include:

Hawkedon Helmet (1st century AD)
The only confirmed piece of gladiatorial armour found in Roman Britain. Recent metallurgical research has revealed this helmet would have been made on the continent and imported to Britain.

Marble relief featuring a beast fighter (1st–2nd century AD)
A relief illustrating a fight between a lion and a specially trained beast fighter (venator). The exhibition also highlights new research into bite marks that were found on a Roman skeleton in York, which found that these marks were made by a big cat such as a lion as shown here.

Colchester Vase (2nd century AD) 
A cremation vessel found in a Roman grave, thought to feature a real battle between gladiators Memnon, Valentinus, and beast-fighters Secundus and Mario. Research has confirmed this vessel was made in Colchester, with its inscription revealing it to be the first real evidence of actual battles taking place in Britain.

“While gladiators have always captured the public imagination, their presence in Britain has been less widely understood. New research has now proven that the spectacles of Rome’s Colosseum were experienced as far away as Colchester. But who were these enslaved fighters, and how did they come to be in Britain? We are now able to start answering these questions and it is fascinating to see how each venue brings these stories to life.”Thorsten Opper, Curator of Roman Collections at the British Museum

The exhibition will be accompanied by a programme of talks, events and activities for all ages. Find out more on the Northampton Museums website.

22 May 2025

A man has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 in fines and costs after finding himself in court over waste related offences for the second time in less than two years. 

Umit Bilgin’s first appearance before Northampton Magistrates came on 6 June 2023, after waste belonging to him was dumped in Spectacle Lane, Moulton. 

Magistrates ordered him to pay £3,350 in fines and costs on that occasion. 

However, the day before that hearing, Neighbourhood Wardens from West Northamptonshire Council had found yet more rubbish belonging to Bilgin while patrolling Duke Street in Northampton. 

It resulted in the 45-year-old being issued with another summons to appear at court, where on Monday, 12 May 2025, he was convicted for a second time of failing in his duty of care to ensure his household waste was disposed of properly. 

This time Bilgin, of Patterdale Walk in Northampton, was ordered to pay a £2,000 fine, plus a victim surcharge of £800 and prosecution costs of £3,500. 

While demonstrating the Council’s commitment to dealing with fly-tipping, the case also highlights the difficulties officers sometimes face when prosecuting such offences. 

Bilgin refused to engage with the officers’ enquiries or the investigation process and had to be issued with an arrest warrant after failing to appear at the first scheduled court date on 16 January 2024.  

And when he failed to appear at the second scheduled court date of 7, May 2024, a further arrest warrant was issued. 

His first court appearance eventually came on 3 March this year, when he pleaded not guilty, leading to the trial on Monday, 12 May.  

“Listening to our residents on the doorstep, dealing with fly-tipping is clearly a top priority for them and we will be stepping up our efforts to tackle environmental crimes and hold offenders to account.

“We would urge people to continue supporting our work by reporting fly-tipping, littering and other environmental crimes on our website or via the West Northamptonshire Council app.” 

Cllr Nigel Stansfield, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste

22 May 2025

In the image from left to right Mrs Haynes , Mr Charles Haynes Ziggurat XYZ, Mr. Jamie Dye, Dr Cristiana Pace Enovation Consulting Ltd and Mr. Barry Tong and Mrs Katy Tong Stephensons Online Ltd.

Three Northamptonshire businesses have been recognised with the prestigious King’s Awards for Enterprise, the UK’s highest honour for business success.

Enovation Consulting Ltd, Sol Retail, and Ziggurat XYZ Ltd have each received an award in the International Trade category, celebrating their outstanding achievements in overseas markets.

The King’s Awards for Enterprise highlight the innovation, growth, and impact of UK businesses across a range of sectors.

“Receiving a King’s Award for Enterprise is a monumental achievement, and I am thrilled to see three businesses from our region recognised for their incredible contributions to international trade and innovation. These companies are setting the standard for excellence and making a real impact on a global scale. Their success is a testament to the talent, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit that thrive here in Northamptonshire.”Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, James Saunders Watson

Enovation Consulting was founded in 2018 following Dr.  Cristiana Pace’s pioneering PhD investigating and implementing a more data-driven and robust approach to sustainability in motorsport organisations. While early applications included F1 teams, manufacturers, and motorsport federations, the business quickly evolved into an international ESG consultancy working to accelerate changes across the sport sector. Today, Enovation Consulting offers end-to-end creative, innovative, and data driven solutions for sports organisations, integrating sustainability best practices into business strategies and enabling clients to deliver on ESG goals.

“Sustainability in sports is all too often overlooked or just perceived as a communication exercise. We work with sports organisations to address sustainability in a robust, impactful, innovative and data-driven way that results in meaningful change. To achieve this, we have remained independent and agile, using what we call the ‘Formula One mindset’.

“Sport has the power to showcase real change, pioneer innovations, and inspire generations. Therefore, it is a fitting platform to drive change and cultural shifts to help tackle the climate crisis.”

Dr. Cristiana Pace, Founder and CEO of Enovation Consulting

Sol Retail, based in Northampton and founded by Barry and Katy Tong in 2012, has been recognised with a King's Award for Enterprise in International Trade. The business began with £10 selling ornaments and DVDs on eBay and is now ranked among the top 100 sellers on Amazon UK and the EU. Sol Retail supports health, beauty, and wellness brands, with sales nearing £20 million annually. It also donates to local charities, including over £500,000 in stock to the Lewis Foundation.

"This award is a landmark, not just for Sol Retail, but for the vision and perseverance that's brought us here. When we started the business in a flat with £10... we never imagined we'd be where we are today.

 "The King's Award for Enterprise recognises the passion, grit and innovative thinking that our team bring to the table every single day, and it marks just the beginning of our journey to £50 million and beyond."

Mr Tong, CEO of Sol Retail

Ziggurat XYZ Ltd, founded in 2016 by Charles Haynes is a Northampton-based talent and creative agency, has been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.  Specialising in factual entertainment, the agency supports a diverse range of clients, including blacksmiths, chefs, mathematicians, and gardeners, empowering them to expand their reach and impact. Over the past five years, Ziggurat has achieved an average annual growth rate of 40% and now operates in 12 countries, employing 19 staff members.

“Ziggurat is 8 years old now, and it often felt like we were hiding our success under a bushel. This award finally puts our expert staff in the spotlight they deserve. We are thrilled to be recognised for our contribution to international trade and are excited about the future.” Charles Haynes, Managing Director at Ziggurat XYZ Ltd