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Caistor Roman Town survey results

Recently we asked the public what (if any) development they would like to see on the Caistor Roman town site - the once-bustling regional centre of East Anglia.

BACKGROUND Just 3 miles south of Norwich lie the remains of a Roman Town, Venta Icenorum, the “market place of the Iceni,” the tribe made famous, or rather infamous, by Boudicca’s rebellion. Here in the Tas Valley can be seen the remains of the town walls, and excavations in the 1930’s uncovered a Roman house, streets, temples and baths.

The monument at Caistor and the surrounding area are owned by Norfolk Archaeological Trust and supported through partnership with South Norfolk Council and other public bodies. All these bodies make up the project’s Joint Advisory Board.

Following a commissioned feasibility study of the site, the Joint Advisory Board asked the public to chose between the following options, in a survey:

The Options:

1: Do nothing new This would mean conserving the existing Roman walls, retaining the present car park and keeping the information panels, leaflets and guidebook as they are.

2: Minimal Scheme As above but with a small information building with toilets near the present car park, and enhanced site panels.

3: Midi Scheme As above but with better on-site facilities and possible guided tours. A new access road to alleviate traffic flow would be considered if necessary.

4: Major scheme As above but with a new Visitor’s Centre across the valley (on The Beeches) with exhibitions, possibly a museum, an education room and even a restaurant. There would be better facilities, new parking and greater opportunities for archaeological research.

THE SURVEY RESULTS Option 1: 122 votes Option 2: 160 Votes Option 3: 36 Votes Option 4: 162 Votes.

The Joint Advisory Board is now taking a closer look at the options which proved most popular, and is working towards creating facilities which will appeal to as many people as possible.

Councillor Trevor Lewis Chairman of the JAB says: “The Board does not believe that a major scheme would be financially viable, and is studying the costs and implications of a scheme somewhere between “Minimal” and Midi” which combines as many as possible of the features stated by the public to be desirable at the site.”

The chosen options will mean the site is likely to include the following enhancements:

(a) Enhanced Site Interpretation (b) New Toilets (c) Provision of educational facilities (d) More research and excavation (e) Wall conservation

Michael Bentley Countryside and Heritage Manager at South Norfolk Council says:

“There is still some way to go before the site can be created, but taking into account the public consultation, the Joint Advisory Board is now considering all the practicalities of the chosen options.”

The full report of the survey results can be viewed on our website.

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