09 March 2010
Britain’s longest historic monument set to be illuminated by
hundreds of lights
Hadrian’s Wall will take centre stage later this week when it is
illuminated by a line of lights stretching from coast to coast,
with the help of more than a thousand volunteers.
Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall on Saturday 13th March is set to be
one of the most spectacular events of the year, bringing to life
Britain’s longest, and greatest, historic monument.
There will be 500 individual points of light, at roughly 250 metre
intervals, along the route of the 84-mile Hadrian’s Wall Path
National Trail.
Linda Tuttiett, the Chief Executive of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage
Ltd, which has led this ambitious project, says: “After many months
of planning we’re just days away from seeing this stunning World
Heritage Site illuminated by hundreds of lights. We’ve been
delighted by how much enthusiasm this event has generated, with
people coming from across the UK and overseas to take part as
Illuminators or just to watch the spectacle from one of the
events.”
The people who volunteered to be Illuminators gave a wide range
of reasons for wanting to take part including wanting to celebrate
‘an iconic landmark’ and their love for ‘one of the greatest
structures ever built’. Some of the Illuminators are marking
key moments in their own lives such as birthdays and
anniversaries.
The Illuminators include hundreds of people from the communities
around Hadrian’s Wall as well as enthusiasts from all across the
country, including places like London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and
Manchester, and even a number of people from overseas.
The Illuminators will meet at muster points across Hadrian’s
Wall Country where they will be given some training, including
health and safety advice. They will then be taken to the
section where they will be responsible for lighting one of the gas
beacons or a flare, which will be located at roughly 250 metre
intervals along the Hadrian’s Wall Path.
They will be supervised by the team that are producing the
project as well as the Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd volunteers who
help out along the route of the National Trail and volunteers from
the Northumberland National Park Authority.
The Illuminators will be provided with food and refreshments
including a bar of Fair Trade Chocolate provided by Cadbury’s.
Carol Bell, Head of Culture and Major Events for culture10 at
NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “The development of this
project has been an incredible journey that could not have been
possible without the extraordinary commitment of so many partners.
It is a fitting tribute to our unique landscape, and a celebration
of its history.”
The Ignition event for Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall will start at
Segedunum Roman Fort at Wallsend in the North East of England at
5.15pm with a performance by Berlin based Theatre Anu. Angels
will appear around the ruins of the fort to tell the story of ‘The
Winged Boy’ as the skies begin to dim. The first of the
lights will be illuminated half an hour later.
The line of light will then begin its journey westwards.
Along the way it will pass through the vibrant cities of Newcastle
and Carlisle, and some of England’s most beautiful countryside,
from rolling fields to rugged moorland.
In Carlisle thousands of people are expected to take part in a
torchlight procession, leaving the city centre at about 6pm to meet
the line of light as it passes through Bitts Park. The
event will include street entertainers, music and the beautiful
Heliosphere balloon with an acrobat suspended beneath it.
The final gas beacon is expected to be lit at Bowness-on-Solway
on the Cumbrian coast at about 6.50pm and the full line of light
will remain illuminated until about 7.15pm.
Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall is an ambitious project led by
Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd which forms part of the world-class
programme of festivals and events developed by the culture10 team
based at NewcastleGateshead Initiative and the Lakes Alive
programme in Carlisle presented by Kendal Arts International and
Manchester International Arts. Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall is
also a flagship event of British Tourism Week 2010.
To get more information about the event visit www.illuminatinghadrianswall.com.
You can also receive updates about the event by becoming a fan of
Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall on Facebook or by following
@EmperorHadrian on Twitter.
For more information about Hadrian’s Wall Country visit www.hadrians-wall.org.
Ends
Images of a rehearsal for Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall and
pictures of different locations along the Wall are available.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Paul Gardner or Jon Perkins on 01524-782086,
Paul@ospreycommunications.co.uk
Images of a rehearsal for Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall on a 2
mile stretch of the Wall are available together with general images
of the Wall.
Notes to Editors
1. Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd was set up in May 2006 in
partnership with One NorthEast (One), the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA), Natural England and English
Heritage. Hadrian’s Wall Heritage works in partnership with a
number of organisations. It brings together business and
conservation, visitors and local communities in a uniquely focused
way, with the overall aim of:
• Creating jobs and enhancing the local economy
• Attracting more visitors who will stay longer and spend more
in the area
• Creating a vibrant and sustainable visitor economy
• Finding better ways to interpret and protect an
internationally recognised monument
• Making Hadrian’s Wall a truly world-class destination
2. Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall forms part of North East
England’s world-class programme of festivals and events, managed by
culture10. culture10 is an annual curated programme of exceptional
cultural events and festivals across NewcastleGateshead and North
East England. Established in 2004, it is managed by the culture10
team, funded by Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council, One
North East, Northern Rock Foundation and Arts Council England,
North East, working in partnership with NewcastleGateshead
Initiative. The Landscape and Heritage theme for 2009/10’s
programme is inspired by major regional events including the
opening of Great North Museum and Hadrian’s Wall celebrations.
Curated by culture10, the programme supports a range of projects
which raise the profile of North East England’s natural and built
assets, exploring the effect of landscape and heritage on the
development of the region as well as the impact of people today on
our landscape and heritage. For further details see www.NewcastleGateshead.com
3. The event is partnered by Lakes Alive, one of three annual
programmes commissioned for WE PLAY, the North West cultural legacy
programme for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. WE
PLAY is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to
help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the 2012
Olympic Games. The project is led by the Arts Council England
Northwest on behalf of a new regional partnership. Lakes
Alive is sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency
(NWDA) and has also received funding from Arts Council England and
the Northern Rock Foundation. The event in Carlisle as part of
Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall is also supported by Carlisle
Renaissance, Carlisle Tourism Partnership and Carlisle City
Council.
4. Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall is also a flagship
event of British Tourism Week 2010.
• British Tourism Week (15-21 March 2010) aims to demonstrate
the critical value of tourism to the economy of the United Kingdom.
www.britishtourismweek.com
• Through a week of events throughout the UK it will:
o Increase awareness of the success and importance of the
tourism industry. Britain's fifth biggest industry, worth
£114billion pa and which employs 2.65million people.
o Raise quality standards.
o Promote training and professionalism.
o Improve the international competitiveness of the UK tourism
industry.
o Support the preparations for hosting the London 2012 Olympic
and Paralympic Games.
• British Tourism Week culminates with the Best of Britain and
Ireland travel trade forum and consumer show at London’s Olympia
from 17-20 March. www.britainandirelandevent.co.uk
• His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is the Patron of
British Tourism Week.
• British Tourism Week is organised by VisitBritain with the
support of The Tourism Society, and representation from the
following organisations on the Executive Council: The Tourism
Alliance; Wales Tourism Alliance; Scottish Tourism Forum;
VisitEngland; VisitScotland; Visit Wales; Visit London; the English
Regions; British Hospitality Association; ABTA the Travel
Association; UKinbound; Local Government Association; Association
of Leading Visitor Attractions; Travelodge; Hoseasons; Holiday
Cottages Group; British Beer & Pub Association; Coach Tourism
Council; Group Travel Organisers Association; Virgin Trains; and
Best of Britain & Ireland Events.