Must Farm Visitor Centre
At Whittlesey Town Council on 9th October 2019, a presentation was delivered by Lisa Roberts, Head of Culture and Leisure Peterborough City Council, with experience in obtaining funding.
Lisa explained that extraordinary Bronze Age finds were discovered at the site West of Whittlesey Town centre on land owned by Forterra. Among the stakeholders are Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough City Council, The Combined Authority, Fenland Council, Whittlesey Town Council, Cambridge Archaeology unit, British Museum, Cambridge University and Historic England. The involvement of Whittlesey Town Councillors Mason, Miscandlon and Dorling were acknowledged in getting the project to this point, along with great support from Peterborough City Council.
There is a project to extend Peterborough Museum for housing the finds in a facility that is designed to hold them securely, secondly the Whittlesey project: Kings Dyke Nature Reserve Heritage Visitor Centre, a portable building environmentally friendly with no footings in the earth, sustainable, collecting rainwater, eco credentials include eco toilets, solar panels. Includes a class for 30 children.
Viewing portholes and exhibition area to display replica items such as the Whittlesey Wheel, swords, textiles, there will be digital interpretation, key will be working with Whittlesey Museum and developing a ‘String of Pearls’ that will link Peterborough Museum, Kings Dyke Nature Reserve and Flag Fen, to showcase the history of Whittlesey.
First phase of feasibility was looking at the site and ascertain costs moving on to detailed design. Funding has been obtained from the Combined Authority using the Market Towns Fund, tender for consultants and further detailed designs, the cost is estimated to be around £500,000, we will be looking at a number of funding options, some interest already including passionate environmental charities interested in the eco design, This is an extremely exciting project for Whittlesey, it is of International importance, an aim is to tell the story of Whittlesey and the surrounding area.
Working closely with Whittlesey Museum, the multi-functional design can be used for a variety of activities, discovering nature and the environment, local artists, Story tellers bird watching, poets can immerse themselves in the landscape. The structure is modular so can be extended and future proofed.
Sustainability of the running costs; consultants were included early in the project, proceeded on the most conservative scenarios, reduced running costs. Money generated will fund the running costs. Incorporation of volunteers, working with the landowners Forterra who are gifting the land.
The original artefacts are unlikely to be displayed at Flag Fen or Kings Dyke Nature Reserve because Peterborough Museum has the expertise and security to retain them, many items are organic and require special preservation. Kings Dyke Nature Reserve Heritage Visitor Centre may have replicas, 3D printed and other representations suitable for education and explanation.
Volunteers at the Museum, other local organisations and a keen interest from residents may provide a valuable staffing resource.
Timescale: Establishing tenders a matter of weeks, Reviewing tenders some months,
Whittlesey will be closely associated and making the story link back from current and recent experience back to Bronze Age in the Fenland Landscape.
I am proud to be associated with this project over the last two and a half years, if you are interested in helping or want more information, please contact me. The above is my recollection of the event, full minutes will be circulated by Whittlesey Town Council as soon as they are agreed.
Eamonn Dorling
Independent Councillor, Bassenhally Ward