Roman Gateway

(Date of issue: Monday, 13 December 2010)

The next stage of improvement works to Carlisle’s city centre is set to start early next year.

The groundbreaking Roman Gateway project aims to establish Carlisle as a world class gateway to the western and central sections of Hadrian’s Wall and will include improvement works in the city’s Historic Quarter and Bitts Park.

It will provide a stronger link between the city centre and the Hadrian’s Wall path. Thousands of people walk the 84 mile trail each year and the scheme will include features which will guide visitors into the city’s historic quarter and specifically the new Tullie House £1.5million Roman Frontier Gallery, due to open in June next year.

Funded by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the City Council, the scheme will all completed by the end of March next year.

The works are part of a wider project to help boost Carlisle’s appeal as a heritage tourism destination.

The major part of a £1.5million investment from ERDF and NWDA is going into Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery to support the creation of a spectacular new Roman Gallery that will use cutting-edge interactive technology to recreate life in Roman Carlisle and along the Wall.

Along with the public realm works, the project aims to create a step-change in the quality of Carlisle’s tourism product and establish Carlisle as the western gateway to Hadrian’s Wall.

Improvement works to the street scene and park areas will be done between January and March 2011 and will include the remaining paving on Castle Street being upgraded to high quality Lazonby sandstone. This will be keeping with the rest of the recent improvement works on the section adjacent to the Cathedral and Hoopers. Public art, information boards and signage, including stone and wood ‘way markers’ and beacons are also proposed as part of the works.

Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the NWDA, said:

"Carlisle has a tremendous Roman heritage and this exciting project will help to establish it as the gateway to the internationally-renowned Hadrian's Wall. It is fantastic to see the progress being made which will capture the potential of Carlisle as a heritage destination. Works will be complete by Spring which gives Carlisle a great opportunity to attract many more new visitors over the summer season."

Landscape Architect's TEP who have done the detailed design and planning of the public realm works on behalf of the council, will oversee the implementation works. For further information view information here.

English Landscapes Ltd has also been appointed by Carlisle City Council to be the main contractor. The company has considerable experience of working within city centre environments, including Merthyr Tydfil High Street and Municipal Way, Crewe town square, in addition to large scale public realm schemes in Spinningfields, Manchester and Media City, Salford. For further information, view information here.

Work will start on the Castle Street section of the project first and two groundwork gangs and two paving gangs will work on opposite sides of the street installing the new footpaths. To allow the works to be completed safely during the works, there will be limited disc parking between Paternoster Row and Annetwell Street. As works are finished, car parking will be opened up on completed areas.

For areas immediately in front of entrance areas, metal ramps will be put in to ensure safe access to individual shops /businesses during all stages of excavation and completion. Some out of hour/weekend work will likely be required to complete in the immediate vicinity of individual entrance points.

Prior to works starting, staff from English Landscapes will contact all businesses and residents within the affected area of Castle Street.

In Bitts Park, at the entrance next to the car park and Victoria Park, improvements will be made to footpaths, seating and signage. A bespoke red sandstone entrance wall, with welcome signage for Bitts Park, will be constructed on the existing flood bank on West Tower Street. Red sandstone entrance pillars in a simple Victorian design, reflecting the heritage of the park, will create a new formal entrance.

Other works are planned near to the entrance of The Sheepmount and at the rear of The Sands, all following the route of the Hadrian’s Wall path. (See notes to editors for more detail.)

Ends

The project is largely funded by the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (£321,000) and Northwest Regional Development Agency (£300,000). Carlisle City Council is contributing £82,000.

The site set up will start week commencing 13 December 2010. Works to the Castle Street North pavement (Hoopers’ Side) will start on 4th January 2011, the south side pavement works (Tullie House side) will start two weeks later on 17th January 2011. Works will start at the Paternoster Row end of Castle Street and move progressively north towards Annetwell Street.

Works within Bitts Park, staring at The Sheepmount, will start 17th Jan 2011. All works will be completed by the 31st March 2011.

Bitts Park

Five new orientation posts and one orientation beacon will create a strong visual link between Bitts Park and Castle Way. This aims to guide users towards the Historic Quarter of the city centre.

Bespoke way markers, to define the route of the Hadrian’s Wall Path and the Hadrian’s Cycle Route as it passes through Bitts Park, will also be provided. Constructed from a solid piece of stone by Cheshire based artist Stephen Broadbent the design includes text and carved patterns of Roman artefacts that wrap around the stone.

Bitts Park Orientation Hub

A circular feature inlayed into the path adjacent to the tennis courts will include text and arrows which will direct visitors to the city centre Historic Quarter, Sands Centre and Sheepmount.

Sheepmount

The design includes the creation of a new formal entrance to Bitts Park next to The Sheepmount, with high quality sandstone entrance pillars and signage that define the Western entrance to Carlisle on the Hadrian’s Wall Path.

Swifts

A new formal gateway to Carlisle on the Hadrian’s Wall Path will be created with high quality surfacing, seating, bespoke signage, way marking and interpretation. Works include a bespoke circular granite feature together with an orientation beacon and a bespoke red sandstone and granite interpretation wall, providing informal seating. The low red sandstone wall depicts the line of Hadrian’s Wall and includes interpretation of the Roman forts located along the wall.

ERDF in the Northwest

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is making a real difference to people and businesses in the Northwest. With €755 million to invest between 2007 and 2013, ERDF is enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting growth in enterprise and employment.

ERDF in the Northwest is managed by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

For further information, view information here.