Roman Museum Saved In Canterbury, Kent, UK

The fight to save the Roman Museum has been won thanks to public support and better marketing.

Canterbury council sparked outrage last year when it said three of the city’s museums, including the Roman Museum in Butchery Lane, would have to close as part of a round of budget cuts.

But the museum is now safe from closure thanks to better promotion and new ideas from supporters in the district.

Janice McGuinness, head of culture at the council, said: "People expressed their views strongly and the purpose of consultation is to create that opportunity for dialogue.

"Many stakeholders and potential partners came forward to offer their help in trying to find ways of keeping the museums open and making the service more sustainable.

 "They have all continued to be generous with their time, ideas, and in many cases, practical assistance.

"This is one of the very positive outcomes of a difficult time, and I am sure this heritage partnership will play a key role in the future of the service."

And thanks to a summer marketing campaign across the whole museums service visitors to the Roman Museum went up by over 20 per cent. 

But when the council concentrated on promoting the Roman Museum in particular in August with new signs and banners and costumed Roman centurions in the high street, visitor numbers went up by a massive 80 per cent.

Cllr Darren Ellis, portfolio holder for culture and sport, said: "We listened to the concerns of the community and our partners and in response we were able to take an extra year to consider ways we might be able to keep our museums open while still making the necessary budget savings.

"We are very pleased to say we have achieved this. We know, however, the budget situation will continue to put pressure on services and we will work with our heritage partners to find ways to sustain the museums service."

Charles Lambie is Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s chairman of trustees and saved the West Gate Towers museum by taking over running and refurbishing it himself.

He said: "I am delighted there is an understanding and recognition that cultural aspects of the city are an asset and can generate a positive income to the council and support the compelling reasons for visitors, residents and businesses to come to Canterbury.

"Those are its historic environment, of which the museums form a crucial part."

And MP Julian Brazier said: "I wrote to the council about this and I am delighted that a sensible and affordable solution has been found."

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council has helped Canterbury council with a review of the museums earlier in the year showing what was good and what could help bring in more money and visitors.

In this year’s recently announced budget the council said it would make the museums free to local people and children but increase the price for adult tourists.

Mrs McGuinness said: "We carried out a lot of research on the price of attractions in Canterbury, Kent and in similar cultural and heritage towns across the country, and we found our museums were under priced. We are aiming to develop other incentives for visitors."