Scotland's culture minister rejects Roman history centre

A depressing story in the Press & Journal. Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop has rejected a plea to open a national tourism centre in Perthshire to celebrate its Roman heritage.

She said the Scottish Government had no plans to fund such a project anywhere in the country or even draw up a list of possible sites where it could be based.

The announcement came as a blow to Conservative Murdo Fraser, who for years has been campaigning for a centre to promote the region’s links with the ancient empire.

The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, backed by Roman history education group the Antonine Guard, said a Roman centre would boost tourism and provide youngsters with a window into Scotland’s past.

Mr Fraser said he was disappointed and criticised the Scottish Government for its “lack of vision”.

Historic Scotland maintains four Roman sites in Perthshire – Blackhill camp near Braco and three watchtowers on the Gask Ridge, near Trinity Gask.

The structures on the ridge, which runs between Perth and Dunblane, are the oldest and most northerly linear defence system in Europe.

Ardoch Fort, which dates back 2,000 years, near Braco, is privately owned.

Ms Hyslop said: “The Scottish Government currently has no plans to create a National Roman Centre, nor has it plans to commission the research that would be needed to support the development of such a list.

What makes the story depressing, first of all, is the rejection out of hand by a culture minister. What makes it doubly so, is that it is to be expected. Hyslop's biography makes for miserable reading. There is no sop at all to anything cultural. Murdo Fraser, on the other hand, has several publications to his name and a long-standing interest in Scottish history.

Comments

[Jona Lendering]

I do not know the details of this particular case, but over the past years, declining numbers of visitors have caused several Roman museums to be closed in Germany, England, and the Netherlands. The decision not to build a museum may have been a wise one: better make sure that the existing Scottish museums display Roman finds than creating a new museum that will have to be closed. I may be wrong, though.

[adrianmurdoch]

The difficulty in this case is not that the museum is not going to be built – you are of course right that money is tight and visitor numbers are down - rather it is that the decision appears not to have been thought through properly. Hyslop is a culture minister who shows little interest in and awareness of culture, while the proposer has a long-standing interest in historical matters.

It is also worth noting here that Ardoch is the best preserved earthwork Roman fort in the empire, and is falling apart through neglect.

[Gabriele]

Decline of Roman museums in Germany? In 2009, a new Roman museum opened in Xanten, and the Römisch-Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Mainz is getting a new building. There also serious talk about establishing a special commission to research Romans in Lower Saxony after the finds at Hedemünden and Kalefeld.

Those Scots need to put up a few signs so you can find the remains of the Antonine Wall, then the tourists will perhaps come. ;)

[Roger Pearse]

The trouble is, Adrian, that calling for spending on stuff, however worthwhile, without thinking "can I afford this" is how we got where we are now. It's easy to call for other people's money to be spent on things we want. But sooner or later you run out of other people's money, as Gordon Brown found out.

[medieval clothing]

that's a helpful fact Jona!

[Colin]

Like Gabriele, I am a bit surprised by Jona's suggestion that visitor numbers to Roman attractions are down. The Roman villa near me, which is privately owned, is doing well enough to be building a new visitor centre.

Having said that, the location in Perthshire isn't a great one from a visitor number point of view. Its a great shame the Romans chose to build fortifications in out of the way places a long way from urban centres. I am sure that it seemed like a good idea at the time, but they haven't done their long term brand development any favours.