The future of the Alauna Roman fort and a model farm at Maryport has been safeguarded by a transfer between two charities. In a deal that has taken eight months to put together, North of England Civic Trust (NECT) has acquired the site from the Hadrian’s Wall Trust (HWT) which ceased trading in July 2014 and now will be wound up.
Camp Farm at Maryport is at the western point of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site one of the largest in the world. It stretches for over 3,000 miles from Maryport across Europe to the Middle East, through Syria, and along the north coast of Africa. Under the turf of the farm is the Roman fort of Alauna and its civilian settlement or ‘vicus’. Over the years surveys and excavations have established the extent and international significance of the archaeology but so far this has not been fully presented to the public. HWT was the agency that promoted Hadrian’s Wall around the world and had acquired the site and drawn up plans to use the model farm buildings as an international visitor attraction and interpretation centre, but the demise of the regional development agencies and funding cutbacks meant this could not be realised. The winding up of HWT put the whole future of the site in jeopardy until negotiations with NECT offered a lifeline.
Linda Tuttiett, Chief Executive of Hadrian’s Wall Trust, said: “Our Trust has been extremely proud with the progress made since acquiring Camp Farm, which contains the internationally significant Roman Fort Alauna. We have worked with the Senhouse Museum Trust, Newcastle University and Oxford Archaeology over the last three years to reveal finds important to improving understanding of the role Maryport played in our Roman history, as well as developing plans for a future visitor centre on the site. Following a drastic reduction in public funding, the Hadrian’s Wall Trust which has led the development of the Hadrian’s Wall corridor, including Maryport, for the last eight years last summer took the difficult decision to close its operations. However we have been delighted to work over the last six months on transferring this valuable asset to the North of England Civic Trust a body with much experience in transforming historic buildings andcreating sustainable futures for them. “We are confident that the North of England Civic Trust will find new opportunities, working with partners, to fulfil the immense potential of the site.”
2015 is NECT’s 50th anniversary so acquisition of Camp Farm presents the Trust with a timely and appropriate celebration to do what it does best: take on challenging and often derelict historic buildings and bring them back from the brink. The Trust has properties around the north of England that it has rescued, including a stately home in Northumberland, a former town hall and coaching inn in Sunderland, and a watermill near Hawes in North Yorkshire that won through to a final of BBC Restoration. So what of Camp Farm?
Graham Bell, Director of NECT, is excited, not daunted: “I probably spend more time treading carefully through derelict buildings than finished ones, so what I see here is not abandoned buildings and buried stones but something that if handled carefully can be brought back to life. Everyone has heard of Hadrian’s Wall but Alauna is still largely Maryport’s secret. Our first question is how to share that secret so everyone gains, especially the residents and schoolchildren on its doorstep, and West Cumbria, and the wider world. Our first step will be to listen to people to build a picture of what will work best. We’ve begun with our neighbours, the Senhouse Museum, and think we can do great things together.”
This is a strategically important site, not just for its history but its role in the economy and environment of West Cumbria. Allerdale Borough Council, Cumbria County Council and Energy Coast West Cumbria are all key players whose support has been critical.
Law firm Sintons, based in Newcastle, acted for NECT. Paul Liddle, Partner in Sintons’ real estate department and client partner for NECT, said: “We are delighted to act for NECT which is highly regarded for its commitment to conserving and regenerating our northern heritage. This particular acquisition had to be completed against a tight deadline and on terms acceptable to HWT, ECWC and NECT. It was not without its complexities but those having been overcome we wish NECT every success with its plans for developing the potential of the site for the public benefit.”
