Northumberland fort gets Lottery boost
Funding uplift for best Roman fort in Britain. Tony Henderson reports
Britain’s most complete Roman fort has been given a funding boost to improve its status still further.
English Heritage has been awarded a development grant of £286,623 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Shared Horizons Project at Housesteads Roman Fort in Northumberland.
The grant will allow the charity to work with its partners, the National Trust and Northumberland County Council, to plan further phases of the project, including improvements to the museum building, reinvigorating and broadening current site interpretation, refurbishing the activity centre, creating pathways for accessible access and improving on-site facilities, as well as making the site more environmentally sustainable.
English Heritage said the award represents an important next step in delivering a long-term project to transform the historically significant site on Hadrian’s Wall, making it easier for more people to explore and telling more of the fort’s remarkable stories.
Lying midway along Hadrian’s Wall, Housesteads was built within a decade of AD 122, when work on the Wall began. It was garrisoned by an 800-strong infantry regiment until the end of the 4th century.
Andrea Selley, English Heritage’s operations director, North, said: “We are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their development grant, which stands as an early endorsement for our aspirations for the Shared Horizons project.
“It is our hope that the project will not only improve the visitor experience at Housesteads but work to involve local communities in creating inspiring activities and volunteering opportunities, and to allow more people to connect with nature and heritage.
“This funding is a vital first step and we are working at pace to put together our plans for the next round of funding.”
Helen Featherstone, director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re thrilled to support English Heritage with this initial grant. Thanks to National Lottery players, this development phase will help progress plans to transform Housesteads Roman Fort into an enviable visitor attraction where local communities can be inspired by its fascinating heritage.”
English Heritage will also take over the running of Housesteads Visitor Centre, previously managed by the National Trust.
Outside the fort walls was a settlement of civilians and traders. The visible remains include four imposing gates and a complete line of curtain wall and interval towers. Within the fort are the remains of all the main buildings, including the commandant’s house, hospital and the famous multi-seater communal loos.
The five-acre fort’s original name was Vercovicium, meaning ‘the place of the effective fighters’.
Housesteads Roman Fort is owned by the National Trust and managed by English Heritage.