Higher profile for Borders Romans!

by DOUGLAS SHEPHERD

A set of ambitious and exciting proposals aimed at promoting Trimontium, the Roman frontier fort near Melrose to a much wider public have come a step closer with an application to develop and extend a local museum in a project estimated to cost £1.9 million.

The Trimontium Trust hopes to increase the number of visitors to its premises in Melrose from 3,000 a year to 12,000 when the visitor attraction is upgraded and ready for business in 2021.

A planning application lodged with Scottish Borders Council includes a report from the trust which concludes: "The new fit-for purpose museum will offer an exciting opportunity to raise the profile and reach of the Trimontium, resulting in a raised national profile.

"It is envisaged that the new museum will attract far greater numbers of visitors which will significantly increase its revenue income ensuring longevity. It will also act as a signpost for similar heritage sites across the Scottish Borders encouraging visitors to explore and visit other locations."

Trimontium was occupied by the Romans intermittently from around 80 AD  to 211 AD. The fort is thought to have been abandoned from c. 100-105 AD until c. 140 AD. At the height of the Roman occupation some 1500 soldiers and a smaller civilian population lived in the camps.The fort included an amphitheatre which could have accommodated between 1000-2000 people.

An archaeological dig conducted by Melrose solicitor James Curle in the early years of the Twentieth Century produced an outstanding collection of Roman armour, including ornate cavalry parade helmets, horse fittings including bronze saddle plates and studded leather tack, more than 240 Roman coins and significant pottery remains. 

Most of the Curle collection of artefacts are on display or in storage at the National Museum of Scotland. The extension and modernisation of facilities at the Melrose museum should facilitate many more of the finds to be displayed locally rather than in Edinburgh.

The trust claims in its documentation which accompanies the planning application that the refurbished museum will act as a hub for community archaeological projects and research projects to increase engagement, understanding and widen access to heritage.

"The Trust already prides itself on its schools engagement, guided walks and lecture series and the new museum will only extend and improve this outreach. Ultimately, the new museum will be a place to house the incredible story of the Trimontium and its native population and the modern interpretive and display technology will only strengthen and supplement this great body of work and artefacts."

The Trimontium Museum, housed within the B Listed Melrose Ormiston Institute, first opened its doors 25 years ago and is the only museum in Scotland dedicated to showcasing the history of the Roman Frontier.

According to the applicants: "Since its original installation, the exhibitions have been expanded with an array of text, images, physical pieces and children’s drawings resulting in a surplus of information that can confuse the onlooker thus being detrimental to the museum’s ethos. Although the content cannot be questioned, it is clear that there is insufficient space in what is already a confined environment.

"The project as proposed is dependent on receiving Heritage Lottery Funding. Currently, the Trust has received funding for a stage 1 development grant. It is anticipated that the HLF stage 2 will be submitted in March 2019. Construction is planned to commence in the summer 2020 and the new museum will be ready for occupation during the second quarter of 2021."