£2m in Lottery funding to raise profile of Britain’s Roman walls
MILLIONS OF pounds in lottery funding has been pledged towards projects celebrating the heritage Britain’ s internationally renowned Roman walls.
The cash injection also aims to bring communities together along the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Antonine Wall across central Scotland, and Hadrian’s Wall across the North of England.
A National Lottery grant of £1.17m will enable experts at Newcastle University to work with community volunteers to help protect, preserve and interpret Hadrian’s Wall.
Some locations are currently at risk from severe weather, tourism and invasive plant species, including Roman cemeteries and the Vallum earthworks.
As part of the Community Archaeology Project (WallCAP) scheme, volunteers from along the wall’s 135km length will be trained in skills such as digital surveying, including terrestrial laser scanning, at various sites to understand more about its condition, as well as conservation and geological work to help prevent further deterioration.
Ros Kerslake, chief executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund said: “Thanks to funding from The National Lottery, what were once built as barriers will now bring communities together to explore and celebrate their shared heritage.”
Meanwhile, a £980,600 grant will help raise awareness about Scotland’s 63km Antonine Wall, particularly among young people.
At the wall, replica distance markers based on the Roman originals will be placed at five different sites alongside information about its history.
Five Roman play areas will also be created at other sites near the wall for young children to explore and play. A programme of 30 community-designed projects, such as a Scouts Big Roman Camp Out and a Roman inspired community garden, will take place across the five local authorities the wall passes through.
The project also aims to develop resources for schools exploring Roman topics.