At The Firepit Company, we believe that our firepits offer more than just a place for people to gather, they also have the power to tell stories and bring history to life. Our journey with The Vindolanda Trust began in 2014, when we were honoured to create a custom firepit for the Trust, which now stands in a prominent position in front of xxxx
Vindolanda is a site of historical significance, laying just to the south of the curtain wall of Hadrian’s Wall. The Vindolanda Trust works tirelessly to preserve this site and uncover its secrets, offering visitors the latest interpretation techniques and display to tell a very old, very interesting Roman story.
When the Trust approached us with the idea of creating a firepit, it was an opportunity to blend craftsmanship with history. The Trust wanted the firepit to reflect the Vindolanda writing tablets, which are perhaps their greatest discovery and have been previously voted by experts and the public alike as ‘Britain’s Top Treasure’. Designing this custom firepit required an understanding of both the historical context and the community’s modern-day needs. Our artist drew inspiration from the tablet’s spidery ink writing provided by the Trust which created a stunning effect both as a sculptural piece for during the day but also when lit up in the dark.
In 2024 The Vindolanda Trust approached us again to create a sculptural beacon to be sited in a new event space at their Roman Army Museum on the site of the Magna Roman Fort, to be lit during special events. The beacon’s shape is a nod to a Roman milestone and features images and text that reflect the Roman heritage of the site.
The unveiling of the beacon was a special occasion to celebrate the community that keeps Vindolanda alive. Although it was quite a journey from our workshops here in Essex, Jason took the opportunity to attend this event. This was not only a chance to see the original firepit in place but also the bespoke designed MiniBlaze which Vindolanda sell in their shop. This means that customers can take away their own Firepit company piece that celebrates the Vindolanda tablets.
Our collaboration with The Vindolanda Trust has been a rewarding journey and we’re proud to have contributed to such a significant site and look forward to seeing how these installations will continue to enhance the experience of visitors to Vindolanda.
At The Firepit Company, we’re passionate about creating pieces that tell stories and bring people together. Whether it’s through our work with historical sites like Vindolanda or in the gardens of our customers.
