Over a period of nearly 400 years, the Romans changed the history of Britain forever. The National Trust is proud and privileged to care for much of their extraordinary legacy, but right now we face two tremendous challenges.
National treasures like Hadrian’s Wall, Chedworth Roman Villa, Dinefwr Fort and Dolaucothi Gold Mine have been exposed to the elements for nearly 2,000 years now, and conservation work is both urgently required and expensive.
© National Trust
At the same time, we have both a duty and a magnificent opportunity to present our heritage in a way that is accessible, exciting, and inspirational. When you visit one of the National Trust’s Roman heritage sites we want your experience to be as rich as it can be. That is why we have launched this Roman Britain Appeal.
'We want to help spark a love and understanding of history that will last a lifetime.'
Hadrian's Wall and Housestead Fort, Northumberland
Hadrian’s Wall must be one of the most famous monuments in the world, let alone Britain. On the seven miles of wall that the National Trust cares for is Housesteads Fort one of the 12 permanent forts built along the wall.
Including barracks and some of the world’s earliest-known flushing toilets, the fort can be an extraordinarily evocative place. At the moment however, many visitors leave not fully understanding what they have seen. Our goal is to expand and modernise the visitor centre to provide an interactive audio-visual introduction to the site. Then, when visitors make the long trek up the hill; the people who lived in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall will surely come alive in the imagination!
© National Trust
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Chedworth Roman Villa, Gloucestershire
Since a piece of mosaic was discovered by two men catching rabbits in the woods in 1864, the Chedworth site has emerged as one of the grandest villas of the 4th century. We don’t know who lived in the villa, but with over 50 rooms, including two bathhouses, heated living rooms and flushing toilets, the owners were clearly a family of great wealth and power.
If the National Trust can raise funds to install low-impact buildings over the original remains, excavations can take place whilst visitors look on from a walkway above. At the same time, plans to transform the visitor centre will bring to life the stories of the Romans and Britons who were born, worked, loved and died here.
© NTPL / Andrew Butler
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Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire
An outpost fort in Wales, only recently found. This is still largely unexplored and funding is required to develop a research and discovery programme, involving excavations with a high level of public engagement. It is also a training opportunity for students and professionals in the archaeology sector. Money is also required for geophysical survey, display/interpretation material for engagement, storage and archiving.
The much needed research and excavation will provide the critical dating evidence (coins and pottery) that may confirm when the forts were built and abandoned. To date this site has only had relatively small excavation and has only scratched the surface of a major archaeological find. One of the principal objectives at this site is to determine the character of the buried archaeology in order to inform the future management of this part of the Dinefwr landscape.
© NTPL / David Levenson
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Dolaucothi Gold Mines, Carmarthenshire
The area was exploited during the Roman period, leaving behind a complex of pits, channels, adits and tanks. Mining resumed here in the 19th century, reaching a peak in the late 1930s. This is a unique site. The archaeology is very important, but very fragile and complex. It requires specialist input to interpret.
All these projects are about protecting, yet simultaneously revealing and sharing the significance of the properties and ensuring that their unique qualities are protected, enhanced, understood and enjoyed by present and future generations. This emphases just how much the Trust needs to engage with supporters provoking their trail of thought into imagining life throughout the period that Romans ruled.
Please help us preserve these special sites for future generations.
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