Maryport ‘Camp Farm’ could be developed

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given the green light to Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd (HWHL) to work up plans to transform and excavate Camp Farm at Maryport in west Cumbria.

Development funding was awarded to HWHL to help them progress their plans for Camp Farm, which is one of the most significant but least researched sites along the Roman frontier in the north of England.

The HLF first-round pass means that HWHL can now progress to the second stage of the HLF application process for the £3.75 million of HLF support, including £165,600 development funding,  that it is seeking for its £11 million project.

Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd said the award was a solid endorsement of the national and international significance of Roman Maryport.

Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd is the company that was set up in 2006 to help look after, protect and conserve the World Heritage Site and to increase its contribution to the local and regional economy.

The Chief Executive of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, Linda Tuttiett, said:

“This first round HLF funding award is great news for Roman Maryport and the rest of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site.  This important site now has the potential to be developed as a world class museum throwing more light on the story of Roman life in Britain and the role of Maryport in the frontier system.

“This project is for the people of Maryport and we are committed to making sure everyone in Maryport who wishes to be involved can be.

“We’re now a step further in a £11 million scheme that will bring an additional 50,000 visitors to Maryport every year, spending between £3 and £4 million and supporting around 76 full time jobs directly in the Museum and the surrounding town through tourism revenues.”

Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said:

“The first-round pass is an important step towards the future development of the Roman Maryport site. This project has the potential to transform this internationally recognised heritage site, by making it accessible to the public for the first time.

“Although this announcement does not guarantee that at second-round an award will be made, HLF will offer Hadrian’s Wall Heritage full support in taking their application further.”

Maryport vicus

The Roman fort at Maryport, was the focus of the Roman’s coastal defences in Cumbria.

The Maryport vicus is the biggest and also one of the most complete and best-preserved civil settlements surveyed along the northern Roman frontier.  A geophysical survey has confirmed the outline of more than 170 buildings, suggesting that over 500 people lived within the settlement.

Eric Robson, who is a board member of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd and lives in West Cumbria, said:

“Camp Farm is an exciting historical site for archaeologists and visitors alike, offering a fascinating insight both into the way the Roman’s operated in Britain and to the social and cultural life outside the forts.

“It will also show people that there was more to Rome’s northern frontier than just the Wall.  As we can see from this site, the defences that stretched down the coast from the end of the Wall at Bowness-on-Solway to Ravenglass were a vitally important part of the Roman military infrastructure in the north of England.”

Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd hopes to secure the full £11m funding package in time for the work starting on the site in September 2010.  The visitor facilities are expected to open to the public by 2012.

New museum

The plans for the new museum include galleries examining the purpose of the northern frontier, Maryport’s role in the western sea defences, life at the fort and vicus, and themes such as religion, ethnic diversity, migration and career paths.

There will also be viewing galleries to enable people to view the parts of the dig that are underway and a Roman farm attraction.

The new museum will be home to the collection of Roman military altar stones and Romano-British religious sculpture that can currently be seen at Senhouse Roman Museum, which is next to Camp Farm.

The fort and settlement at Maryport provided most of the contents of Senhouse Roman Museum, one of the most important collections of Roman altars and sculptures from Britain, and indeed the Roman Empire.

The excavation of the site will enable this collection to be better understood.

Archaeological excavation

This key heritage development involves the restoration and conversion of historic farm buildings into galleries, where there will be rich, varied, and complementary interpretation emphasising the relevance of the story of Roman Maryport.

The project will create a continuous programme of live archaeological excavation and provide access to the archaeology of the site, creating learning opportunities for local volunteers and students and bringing together the collection and site so that they can be managed and safeguarded together.

Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd also expresses its thanks to the Northwest Regional Development Agency, Britain’s Energy Coast West Cumbria, European Regional Development Fund, Cumbria County Council and the Senhouse Museum Trust with whom it is working to make the investment in Roman Maryport possible.

Further information

Options for the Development of Roman Maryport – Nov 2004 – Allerdale Council

Research document about Maryport by Durham University

The Senhouse Museum Trust Registered Charity No 516491 – Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st March, 2007

Armies march out of history onto the streets of Carlisle

An army of soldiers from different periods in the history of Carlisle will march through the city once again on Thursday 28th May.

Re-enactors representing Romans, Vikings and English Civil War soldiers will march from different parts of the city towards The Guildhall where they will be addressed by Emperor Hadrian, as time converges in the centre of Carlisle.

The event is part of The Living Frontier which will bring 2,000 years of history to life in vivid and spectacular detail during the spring half term from the 24th to the 31st of May at the historic sites along Hadrians Wall

Linda Tuttiett, the Chief Executive of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, says: “The Living Frontier will be a series of colourful and action packed events right across Hadrian’s Wall Country from the mouth of the Tyne to the west coast of Cumbria. The march in Carlisle will undoubtedly be one of the highlights and will provide a great spectacle both for local people and visitors to the city and help bring its Historic Quarter to life.”

The day’s events will also see more historical, as well as hysterical, performances.

Roman centurion Pompous Maximus and his devious slave Servillius Wretch will be turning up after years in the wilderness to check on how the Roman Empire is doing.

Queen Elizabeth the First will also be entertaining her subjects while Francis Drake tries on a regular basis to conquer Spain, if he could just work out where it was. One of the best re-enactment groups in the country, their performance is described as ‘more Blackadder than Glenda Jackson’.

Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd is managing The Living Frontier as part of culture10’s programme of world class events for North East England and has been able to extend the programme westwards into Cumbria through the support of Carlisle Renaissance.

Bryan Gray, Chair of Carlisle Renaissance, said: “Carlisle Renaissance is delighted to support the Living Frontier events, as part of our push to raise the profile of Carlisle’s Historic Quarter and bring more visitors to Carlisle to experience its rich heritage. I’d urge anyone with an interest in heritage or culture to come along and explore the Living Frontier events and the city, and see for themselves what Carlisle has to offer.”

Pompous Maximus and Queen Elizabeth will be back performing in the centre of Carlisle between 10.30am and 4.30pm on the Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile the Sealed Knot will be taking people back to the English Civil War at Carlisle Castle on the 29th and 30th. The Castle was a stronghold of the Royalists during the Civil War but was under siege by Oliver Cromwell’s Roundheads. How long could they hold out?

Visitors will be invited inside the castle walls to see and hear life in the castle during these tumultuous times. Soldiers drill, man the gatehouse and the wall walks. The city’s craftspeople keep the army going; you’ll be able too see the blacksmith, the barber surgeon, the cloth workers, cooks and the carpenters all at work. All of them waiting for an attack on the castle.

The Living Frontier events will be taking place all along Hadrian’s Wall during the half term holidays. They are being led by Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd. As well as being supported by Carlisle Renaissance The Living Frontier forms part of North East England’s word-class programme of festivals and events developed by culture10.

The highlight of The Living Frontier events will be a ninety minute pageant at Tynedale Rugby Ground in Corbridge on Saturday 30th May at 8.00pm. The event will bring together all the re-enactors and their frontier stories in a spectacular show of music, drama, and technical wizardry that creates a journey through the mists of time to witness two battles, a wedding and a funeral.

Tickets for the pageant will cost £10 for adults and £5 for children. Anyone who buys a ticket for the event will save 50% on admission charges over the weekend at all the other venues where the Living Frontier events are taking place.

At Birdoswald on 24th and 25th May you can come face to face with Roman soldiers from the time of the invasion of Britain to the end of Roman rule and the time of the legendary King Arthur. Visitors will witness the drill and tactics of these soldiers and see the skill and horsemanship of a fast paced duo of cavalry soldiers from both epic periods in history.

From the 29th to the 31st of May there will be a living history camp involving Border Reivers at Birdoswald. The event will include weapon and show drills with muskets and other period equipment and an interactive ‘court martial’.

Senhouse Alive! at Maryport at the western end of the World Heritage Site on 26th May will include historical tours, Roman food and a chance to make your very own Roman goddess.

Further along the Wall, a full Roman Century (80 soldiers) will make visits to a number of sites in Hadrian’s Wall Country from their encampment at Corbridge Roman Site, as well as presenting full drill exhibitions and living history displays at Corbridge. It will be the first time this will have been seen on Hadrian’s Wall for over 1600 years.

Vindolanda will be the site of an encampment that not only recreates Roman military life but shows how the civilians and families lived almost 2000 years ago. The Roman Army Museum will provide a taste of history with cookery demonstrations from key periods in the history of Hadrian’s Wall.
Once a Roman Cavalry fort, Chesters will provide displays of equestrian and falconry skills and there will also be events at Housesteads.

At the eastern end of Hadrian’s Wall Country, Segedunum and Arbeia will celebrate the Living Frontier with displays from the Viking era.

For further information, times and tickets to the pageant visit www.livingfrontier.com or telephone 01434-322002.

To find out more about Hadrian’s Wall Country go to www.hadrians-wall.org.

Death of a King – Burgh by Sands

Every year thousands of people pass through the small village of Burgh by Sands on their walk along the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail but few people realise the significance of the place.

For it is here that an English king, Edward I, died and is now remembered with a monument and statue.

 

 

 

 

Podcast

Podcast

 

Subscribe to our ITunes podcasts here

You may also wish to read …