Leicester’s Jewry Wall Museum is due to open to the public on 26th July after a major refurbishment and renovation programme.
The remains of the Roman bathhouse at Jewry Wall have been incorporated into the museum, which will showcase more than 100 Roman artefacts – all discovered in Leicester and Leicestershire.
The latest digital technology is being used to help bring Leicester’s Roman past to life following completion of the refurbishment programme undertaken by Leicester City Council.
BSP Consulting was the civil and structural engineer on the Jewry Wall Museum renovation project.
Director at BSP, Paul Elphick, said: “We were immensely proud to have been appointed as part of the team working on this development to renovate and refurbish Leicester’s Jewry Wall Museum.
“Our initial involvement was to assess the structural condition the building was left in following the insolvency of the original contractor and our engineers ensured the building was safe for others to access. We then worked with the design team and contractor on alternate plans to breathe new life into the museum. We’re thrilled to see what a great job everyone has made of this very important scheme.
“It truly is a world class visitor centre and museum, showcasing Leicester’s very rich Roman history.”
Other members of the team involved in the scheme include architect Maber, project managers and cost consultants Pulse Consult and M&E firm Couch Perry Wilkes.
Project details
The museum, which originally opened in 1966, is home to the Jewry Wall – one of the UK’s tallest civilian Roman structures.
The Grade II listed building that housed the old museum and the former Vaughan College nearby has been sensitively refurbished, with huge glass walls connecting the ancient Jewry Wall and the outdoor space with the modern exhibition space inside, and with a new pedestrian bridge from St Nicholas Circle – making the building fully accessible for the first time.
Inside the museum, an immersive film will welcome visitors with a journey through the excavated areas of Roman Leicester, while interactive displays, games and projections will allow visitors to explore the 2nd century site, transporting them back in time to experience everyday life in Leicester as it was around 2,000 years ago.
Characterisations of the buildings and the people of Roman Leicester, created by artist Scott Tetlow, will help to animate the story, giving visitors an insight into the public and private lives of the residents of Ratae Corieltauvorum – the Roman name for the city of Leicester.
Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Everything that will be on display in the new museum has been discovered right here in Leicester and Leicestershire, from the Blackfriars Mosaic that’s been described as one of the finest mosaics found in Roman Britain, to a beautifully crafted bronze key handle that depicts a man grappling with a lion, uncovered by archaeologists right next to Jewry Wall on Great Central Street in 2016.
“The opening of the new museum on Saturday 26 July means that Leicester can finally shout about its Roman roots, offering visitors another must-see attraction in our historic city and making local people even more proud of Leicester’s extraordinary 2,000-year history.”
Admission tickets for Jewry Wall: A Real Roman Experience are now on sale at jewrywall.com,
