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The
Roman Fort of Segedunum was built in about AD 125 as part of an early modification
to the original of Hadrian's Wall. Essentially the Wall was extended four miles
east from it's original terminus in Newcastle to Wallsend. The fort remained
in occupation until the end of the Roman rule in AD 410 and possibly for a century
later at a smaller scale.
In th early 1970's Victorian housing was cleared from the site, allowing the University of Newcastle upon Tyne to begin the most comprehensive series of archaeological excavations of a Roman Fort anywhere in the Empire. The central headquarters building, the Principia, was consolidated for display and the fort walls, towers, gateways, and some roadways were laid out in paving.
A 35
metre section of wall was excavated by Tyne and Wear Museums in 1991-2 and a
full reconstruction of a section of Hadrian,s Wall has been completed adjacent
to the ruins. In 1987 Hadrian's Wall and it's associated features were designated
a world heritage site. Consequently the eastern terminus fort at Segedunum and
the excavated and reconstructed sections of the Wall must be considered as the
most important historical monument to be found in the North Tyneside area, with
both National and International significance.
To reflect the importance of the site and its location on the Roman Wall, it is proposed that the new Segedunum Visitor Centre, Museum and Field Study Centre is designed with excellence in mind. The aim is to provide a striking and bold building that will be exciting for visitors to use and will incorporate first class facilities which will complement the significance of the site. The objective through the architecture and the facilities is to develop a reputation of quality which will attract visitors from not only the immediate locality, but from further afield and abroad.
Successful bids were made by both European and Heritage Lottery funding totalling £8.0 million. A further £1million has been provided by other sources including NORTHUMBRIA WATER 'Kick start', BELLWAY URBAN REGENERATION, NORTH TYNESIDE CITY CHALLENGE, HERITAGE ARTS ABSA funding and NORTH TYNESIDE COUNCIL. The new facilities are expected to attract over 70,000 visitors a year and will have a special emphasis as an educational facility for school parties.
The Segedunum project includes:-
The Building Design Agency as Project Managers are working within a multi- disciplinary team closely functioning with Tyne and Wear Museums Service, REDMAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES (Museum exhibition consultants) and the DAVID ASH PARTNERSHIP (Roman reconstruction specialists). £5million will be spent on converting two existing buildings, formerly belonging to SWAN HUNTER SHIP BUILDERS and constructing a new 'Crows Nest' viewing area. The proposals include a field study centre that is to provide a working base for the archaeologists, conference and teaching facilities together with an auditorium. The museum will fully utilise interactive computer technology in order to bring Roman culture to life and to give the visitors a 'hands on' feel. A cafe is carefully positioned within the new link building to maximise the dramatic view across the site and along the River Tyne.
A working reconstruction of a Roman bath house will provide a unique insight into Roman life. The reconstruction will contain some unique features, including hypocaust heating system and the specification of 'Opus Signinum' concrete to Roman standards. The discovery for the first time of a complete Roman Cavalry barracks has caused world wide archaeological interest.
The centerpiece of the new complex will be the 33 metre crow's nest tower which will accommodate a smaller auditorium. Set against the dramatic backdrop visitors will view a presentation that will impose a computer model of the settlement directly upon the spot where it once existed. Using VR technology the visitors will be able to 'fly' around the site and inspect specific areas in more detail. Graphics and video will be combined to demonstrate the layout of Segedunum, explain it's development and it's influences, and to draw links to modern day Wallsend.
Virtual Reality - A Brief Introduction
VR can be defined as a technology which enables a computer user to explore and to interact freely with 3D representations of objects and environments. Unlike the computer graphics and special effects used in films or TV, where each frame is drawn or 'rendered' and are then read like a book by the computer, VR will take you through and let you interact with a programmed virtual world where the images are updated in real time. Many different systems have been developed to immerse the user into the virtual world, in some cases the user will wear head-mounted displays, gloves and bodysuits with position tracking systems.
Visitors at Segedunum's archaeological park will be given this uniqe insight of VR world as they are carried on a breathtaking tour of Segedunum and nearby sites via the auditorium housed in the crow's nest tower. The auditorium will be capable of holding 34 visitors and is currently under construction and due to open in late Summer/Autumn 2000. Introducing this experience to Segedunum will be the UKNETS Free Web Site prepared by local web designers Flynn and Simon.
Click here for other Segedunum pages
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