Full-size recreation Roman siege catapult (ballista)

An expertly created Roman siege catapult – the only one of its kind.

Yes, this is for real. We are selling a full-size Roman siege catapult (or ballista), which we believe to be the only one of its kind (for at least 2000 years).

The catapult was recreated by a team of experts, following all known records, as accurately as possible – and then successfully fired. It was created for the BBC, for a programme called Building the Impossible, in 2002. It was built by the timber-frame team at Carpenter Oak & Woodland.

The ballista weighs approx 12 tons so postage or even buyer collection is not an option. Fully built, it is approx 7.5 metres tall and 8.5 metres long.

Originally, this cost over £120,000 to build – so we are only looking for serious bidders.

Our reserve price of £25,000 includes the cost of essential repairs to bring it back to a condition where it could be displayed, and includes delivery to any mainland UK destination.

Please note: if erecting is required at the buyer’s site, it will cost an additional £17,500 to the purchase price. It is essential that the site has adequate space for the crane and space for setting up. This will not fit in your average garden!!

Here’s a short video of the ballista being constructed and fired, so you know we’re not making this up.

Condition

The ballista is unassembled in one of our timber yards, and requires a bit of restoration work. The timbers are now ‘seasoned’ – a slivery grey that oak goes when exposed to the sun – rather than being new, but this just adds to its authenticity. It will not fire again, but will make an excellent demonstration piece.

The good news

We will undertake the essential repairs needed so that the ballista will again be a formidable, full-size and accurate recreation of an early war machine – albeit one that would not fire. Our work will bring it back to display condition – but it could be brought back to a firing condition, with the right people involved and an additional investment.

Why would you want one?

• The ballista could be an excellent and unique tourist attraction for a wide range of public venues.
• It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a unique recreation of a Roman war machine.
• If you have aspirations to overthrow a neighbour’s castle, the ballista isn’t ideal, as even though it is potentially capable of throwing a stone ball over 100 yards, it is now not in firing condition. (Please note that even if it were, you would need a team of several skilled operators in order to do this, and these are very hard to find today. You may also find that advances in weaponry since this was designed place you at a considerable disadvantage on the modern battlefield.)

Payment

Payment will be accepted in the form of a bankers’ draft or business cheque.

Some pictures of the ballista