TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS JOINT COMMITTEE
25 SEPTEMBER 2003
REPORT OF:
SUBJECT:
1.
Director of Museums and Galleries
North Tyneside Museums
Segedunum
1.1 Events
1.1.1 The main event of the summer was the visit of the ever-popular
Ermine Street Guard (26 and 27 July), Britain’s premier Roman
re-enactment society, with well over 1,000 people attending.
Segedunum has also hosted several other Roman reenactment events, including Cohors Quinta Gallorum (9 -10
August), Tyneside’s own Romans, and Rent-a-Peasant (for the
second time this year).
1.1.2 The summer has also seen several family fun days, including
the chance to make a Roman dagger, shield or ‘Seggy the
Centurion’. Alternatively, visitors have had the chance to try
their hand at spinning and weaving.
1.1.3 The main family event for the summer was the Fun Dig (5 - 7
August). Children were able to become archaeologists to dig
on the fun dig site in the activities room, helping archaeologists
solve the ‘puzzle of the post-holes’. At the same time staff
were on the fort site and in the museum to teach visitors survey
and other techniques used by archaeologists in the field. The
event proved very popular, not least, as there are very few
opportunities for people to try their hand at archaeology.
1.1.4 Saturday 12 July saw the third annual Wallsend Festival. This
community event, inspired partly by the creation of
Segedunum, continues to grow in popularity, and feedback at
the museum’s stall in Wallsend town centre demonstrates
Segedunum’s popularity.
1.1.5 On Sunday 13 July, as a follow up to the Festival, a Faces from
the Fort day was run in conjunction with the MOO (Museums
Outreach Online) project. People who had lived on the site of
the fort when it was covered with terraced houses were invited
to come in and share their memories with the museum.
Participants were given a certificate showing the exact location
of their house on the fort. This was designed by members of
Burnside Community High School’s ‘Segedunum Detective
Agency’, which has participated in other research for the
project. In time the information gathered will be incorporated
into a website and exhibition at Segedunum.
1.2 Education
In addition to the family fun activities mentioned above, the Education
staff have been busy developing the Roman Garden, which is now
planted out and looking spectacular. A North East Regional
Museums Hub-funded assistant education officer (shared with
Arbeia), has increased the number of family fun activities on offer.
1.3 Friends of Segedunum
Tuesday 15 July saw the launch of the Friends of Segedunum by TV
personality and chair of the Campaign for Museums, Loyd Grossman.
For their subscription, members of the Friends get free entry to the
museum, a discount on guests’ admission and purchases in the shop,
as well as their own newsletter. Over 40 people have joined already.
1.4 Visitors
Over the summer, Segedunum has welcomed a steady stream of
visitors walking the Hadrian’s Wall Path, either starting or finishing! In
addition we have played host to the International Roman Pottery
Studies Conference, and the Newcastle Law Society’s President’s
Summer evening. In August we were part of the event for the naming
ceremony for the Largs Bay, the first ship to be built at Swan Hunter
for 10 years.
1.5 Filming
Segedunum has been visited by no less than four film crews over the
summer, including a CBBC series on the Romans, a Hadrian’s Wall
DVD, BBC World for a programme about Hadrian’s Wall as a World
Heritage Site, and a documentary about Swan Hunter.
1.6 Bath-House
The bath-house was the subject of an arson attack on Friday 8
August, although fortunately no real damage was done. An arrest
was made, and several windows were smashed at the baths on the
following night.
1.7 Performance
Visitor figures are showing an increase of 14% on last year.
Following on from research last year, the number of events has been
increased and advertised heavily in local newspapers. The Hadrian’s
Wall trail, which was launched in June, has also attracted a steady
flow of visitors to the Fort.
2.
Stephenson Railway Museum
2.1 Events and Activities at the Stephenson Railway Museum
The following is a summary of the events and activities which have
been enjoyed by visitors during June, July and August:
Sunday 8 June
Sunday 15 June
Thursday 19 June
Wednesday 23 June
Sunday 27 June
Wednesday 30 June
Wednesday 6 July
Thursday 7 July
Sunday 24 & Monday
25 August
Local History Day
A display of motor scooters put on by
local enthusiasts for Father’s Day
The BBC Blue Bus visited the Museum
with a live Radio Newcastle broadcast
from 11.00 to 2.00
Creepy Crawlies! – live insects from the
Hancock Museum, plus entertainment
from Mr Windbags
Whitley Bay Bus Rally
Snakes Alive! – live reptiles from the
Hancock Museum, plus broomstick
making
Magical Beasts! – exploring myth, legend
and reality in the world of natural science
A rally of classic cars in association with
the Sunderland & District Classic Vehicle
Society, plus demonstrations by the
Museum’s electric locomotive.
A Teddy Bear’s Picnic, with stories for
children by Pat Renton on the Monday
This programme of activities has proved to be very popular, and
visitor numbers are currently showing a small increase over those of
2002.
2.3 Building Improvements
Building improvement works to reconstruct part of the museum to
provide an Education, Activity and Training Room, an improved public
entrance and orientation area, indoor public toilets and a larger café
with better access had been planned for July-September. However,
following further consideration of the programme and the costs for the
works, and in particular taking into account the resources required to
maintain the required levels of security and safety of the public during
construction, the project will commence in October, after the end of
the 2003 season. It is hoped that completion by Christmas can be
achieved.
Special provision is being made to allow a popular, regular event,
which is part of the Age Takes Centre Stage festival, to go ahead, as
planned, in October.
The official inauguration of the new facilities will take place in May
2004, when the Museum reopens for the 2004-05 season.
3.
RECOMMENDATION
The Committee is recommended to note the report.
Background Papers held by Curator, Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths and
Museum, Buddle Street, Wallsend 0191 236 9347
File 1.1 Segedunum Events 2003.
File 1.2 Friends of Segedunum
Background Papers held by the Director of Museums and Galleries at
Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne.
File: SRM 2003 season
SRM Development