Dorset Council and its partners are celebrating after receiving a £248,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to improve physical access to the Dorchester Roman Town House and share its heritage with a much wider audience.
Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project focuses on delivering a range of improvements including a new entrance to the Roman Town House site.
Located within Colliton Park, Dorchester, the Town House dates from the later Roman period and is the only house of its kind that is completely on display to visitors in Britain.
While popular with visitors, many have had difficulties in locating the House and there are also many who have never heard of it at all. There are problems with damp on the beautiful mosaics, mainly caused by the large overhanging trees and the house is unable to open to schools and others due to safety concerns from mortar falling from the ceilings.
Supported through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project will provide a new easy access to the site along Colliton Walk, as well as new pathways around the site and landscaping carried out, providing a better sense of place and improving wildlife.
The structure and building will be updated, the mosaics repaired and cleaned and the crumbling mortar from the ceilings will be made safe and reopened for tours and school visits.
A new interpretation area and amphitheatre style seating will be put in for visitors, schools’ groups and theatre productions to use and new interpretation will tell the story of the Roman Town House and link to other sites in Dorchester.
Bridget Betts, Environment Advice Manager at Dorset Council put together the bid working with the senior archaeologists within the Historic Environment team at Dorset Council. They have partnered with Dorset County Museum to link the Roman Town House with the museum’s education programme and The Arts Development Company who will be coordinating the new activities and productions that will be put on during the second year of the project.
The project has not only received National Lottery funding, but partnership funding has been provided by the Heritage Committee, Fine Family Foundation, Dorset Council, Dorset County Museum, and The Arts Development Company.
Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, Cllr Ray Bryan commented, “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players. We have worked hard to put this bid together and have consulted key stakeholders, residents and visitors to understand what is needed. By working with others, we hope to transform the Roman Town House, making access to it easier and provide new activities and productions that welcome new visitors.”
Stuart Hobley, Area Director London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s the National Lottery’s 25th birthday this year. During that time, National Lottery players have raised £7.9billion for the UK’s heritage. We’re delighted that Dorchester’s Roman Town House is now part of that funding story, with a project that will safeguard the future of this important site and share its heritage and stories with more people than ever before.”
