Hadrian’s Cavalry, a multi-site exhibition that will look at the lives and times of the Roman army’s horseback troops, will feature the UK’s largest ever Roman cavalry re-enactment, specially commissioned artworks and wide range of artefacts from the era.

The exhibition, which is being hosted by the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site and will take place at various locations within those grounds, offers an in-depth examination of the cavalry forces who guarded the wall. Their helmets, armour, weapons and other intricately decorated items will be on show at participating locations from 8 April to 10 September 2017.

There will be re-enactments scheduled throughout the six-month period, including, on 1 and 2 July, a 30-troop demonstration at Bitts Park in Carlisle. That will be the largest cavalry re-enactment in UK history, and will be based on military exercises described by Hadrian some two millennia ago. Also in July, a contemporary artwork will be unveiled at Chesters Roman Fort and Museum.

Hadrian’s Cavalry is funded by the Arts Council England’s Museum Resilience Fund to the tune of £690,000 (US$877,000, €817,000). The Roman cavalry artefacts are being loaned by a number of museums, including the British Museum, National Museums Scotland, the Musee d’Art Classique de Mougins in France and the Archaeological State Collection in Munich, Germany.

Ten museums are taking part in the exposition, all of which can found along the route of the ancient wall, including Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle, Great North Museum: Hancock, Chesters Roman Fort and Museum and Housesteads Roman Fort and Museum.