The town of Wallsend retains its Roman identity both in its name and in the remains of Segedunum, the fort at the eastern end of Hadrian’s Wall located a short distance from the Metro station.
As part of a wider, and on going project, Michael Pinsky realised a series of digitised photographs taken around Wallsend, with the text on road signs, shops, advertising posters etc. all translated into Latin by Professor Donald Hill from the Classics Department at the University of Newcastle. These created a bold and witty blend of the ancient and modern, particularly when there is no Latin equivalent for certain modern words and phrases. The Jobcentre became the Forum Venalicium (slave market) and Woolworths became Domus Lana Dignorum (the house of those worthy of wool).
The photographs were originally displayed throughout the station and were complemented by the permanent installation of bi-lingual signage, English and Latin, such as Noli Fumare/No Smoking. A large map, H Murus, showing Hadrian’s Wall and the main Roman road network in the north of England, in the style of the Tyne and Wear Metro map, was also produced to provide unexpected information and a subtle bridge between past and present
|
