7/9/2004 - English Heritage to acquire unique Roman Fort

English Heritage and Cumbria County Council joined forces today (Tuesday 7 September), to announce an important new chapter in the history of Birdoswald Fort, Hadrian’s Wall, Cumbria. The management and preservation of this important Roman stronghold and leading visitor attraction is to be transferred to English Heritage.

Speaking at Birdoswald today, Sir Neil Cossons, Chairman of English Heritage, said: 

"Birdoswald Fort is one of the most interesting and well preserved Roman sites in the North West and provides a fascinating insight into the history and devlopment of Hadrian's Wall. Its particulary well-preserved archaeological remains shed light not only on the Wall itself but on two thousand years of the borders.

I am delighted to announce that Government has given its blessing for the process of transferring Birdoswald into English Heritage's care to begin. We look forward to continuing Cumbria county council's many successfil initiatives and will continue to work closely with them and the other stakeholders as we move into this new exciting chapter of Birdoswald's history."

Henry Owen-John, English Heritage Director for the North West said: 

"Initially we would expect to run the site along the same lines as Cumbria County Council so that we can learn from, and build upon, the excellent experience of its team of staff. In due course we will look at ways in which we can develop the site. We are especially keen to further develop a programme of education and outreach projects to increase understanding of this internationally important site to a wide range of visitors". 

County Councillor Rex Toft, Leader of Cumbria County Council, added: 

"Cumbria County Council has had the care of Birdoswald Roman Fort for 20 years now and has overseen its development into one of the most-visited sites on Hadrian’s Wall.

The fort has its own unique story to tell in the visitor centre which the county council has provided. That story was revealed in the three-year excavation carried out by English Heritage archaeologists in the 1990s.

However, the time has now come to hand it over to someone else to carry the work forward. English Heritage has the expertise and the infrastructure to look after Birdoswald and the fort will fit into its management of the other key centres along this world heritage site."

Over 220,000 people have visited Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site this year alone and numbers continue to grow, making it one of the most popular ancient monuments in the North of England. The acquisition of this significant and popular Fort greatly strengthens English Heritage’s current impressive portfolio of properties along Hadrian’s Wall, which includes Lanercost Priory and Carlisle Castle in the west. English Heritage has also co-ordinated the development of the World Heritage Site management plan in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders.

Widely considered as the most unique ruins on Hadrian’s Wall, Birdoswald Fort encapsulates all the components of the Roman Frontier system and gives visitors a real insight into life in this remote Imperial outpost. Impressive visitor facilities including a residential hostel, café, shop, interpretation centre and a programme of stimulating educational activities makes Birdoswald Fort one of the key sites for interpreting Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site.