NATIONAL COLLECTIONS GROUP

Curatorial Department

Carlisle Castle

July 202020120 11111 Exhibition Plan

1.1.1. Introduction

In 2010 it was agreed to allocate £100K from the Property Investment Programme to create a new exhibition at Carlisle Castle. The castle has suffered from a lack of investment in recent years and the provision of interpretation for visitors is currently very poor. This project builds on work carried out in 2009 and 2010 including a concept paper for developing the entire castle site and an interpretation plan describing phases of work that could deliver an improved visitor experience.

2.2.2. Parameters of the current project

2.1 Aims of the new exhibition

1. to provide an interesting and engaging introduction to the long history of Carlisle Castle 2. to provide ground level, DDA compliant, interpretation 3. to provide an additional resource for education groups (probably not for use as an introduction to discovery Visits due to the size of the space, but for use for project work and FEV) 4. to provide an upturn in visitor numbers (with support from marketing)

2.2 Audiences

Market research, including a visitor survey in 2009, has indicated that the following audiences should be targeted for this project.

Families are the primary audience for the new exhibition. Carlisle is one of the top visits for families and so we need to respond to this audience and grow it as much as possible. There is a specific opportunity to attract more locals and day-trippers, currently underrepresented in our visitor numbers.

EducatEducationion groups have been targeted in recent years as a growth area for the castle through the introduction of new Discovery Visits. Any new interpretation will therefore be developed with this group in mind, although as noted above it is recognised that the exhibition space is likely to be too small for use as a core resource by all education groups.

2.3 Budget and timescale

£100,000 is available for the entire project. This is to fund the new exhibition in the militia store and additionally the following works:

- M&E works: To make the Captain’s Tower safe for visitors; To create a screen wall and re-decorate the militia building Total for M&E £8,000 estimate

- Interpretation in the Captain’s Tower and keep (included in budget below for the new exhibition)

- Removal of exhibition on the first floor of the keep £3,000 estimate

This results in a budget of £89,000 for the exhibition, and all interpretation for the Captain’s Tower and Keep. A more detailed budget breakdown is included as a separate spreadsheet.

The project is to be delivered by the end of the financial year 2011/12. In order to achieve this deadline the following milestones are recommended:

March 2011 Gateway 1 application at PSG (complete) May 2011 Submission of exhibition plan to CDMT (complete) July 2011 Tender for designers (Contact Finder) August 2011 Concept design development September 2011 Gateway 2 application/sign off on concepts To March 2012 Detailed design and production (inc removal of current exhibition and filming of virtual tour) March 2012 Installation and launch

2.4 Location: the Militia store

The exhibition space is a room which comprises about 2/3rds of the ground floor of the Militia Store, a 2-storey building of red sandstone dating from 1881. The interior is plain, and has no historic features. It is entered and exited by a standard door opening in the west wall. The south wall contains a series of windows providing views of the inner ward and keep.

A disabled-access toilet opens off the room and the door to it has to be properly screened. This will mean putting up a screen wall, not less than 2m high and 1.5m wide, to separate off a passageway representing the west end of the room. It should be possible to use the screen for graphic panels etc., and possibly to integrate a display case or table with the screens. However, this does reduce the floor space available. The room will still be large enough to allow for one substantial ‘island’ object in the middle.

The following works are required in addition to the screen wall: a new floor surface, redecoration of the walls and the addition of UV film to the windows. The current light fixings are to be reused for this project but may be repositioned on the existing track.

Most exhibits will need to be free-standing due to the fact that the north and east wall are not load bearing, and neither will be the west wall once the screen wall is fitted. The remaining wall contains windows and is therefore also unsuitable for fixing large exhibits. This steers us towards creating a modular exhibition, a design that could prove advantageous should the exhibition be relocated as part of the future development of the site.

The natural visitor-flow around the room would seem to be left from the entrance, and clockwise around it to return to the door to exit.

2.5 Location: the Captain’s Tower

This building is the gatehouse to the inner ward and is currently not open to the public - though it is used as a wet room for education groups to eat their lunches. The building has two floors and can be accessed from the inner ward and from the wall walk - thereby providing a secondary route onto and off the wall walk.

Certain works need to be carried out in order for the building to be opened for visitors. These include adaptations to the lighting, fire detection, reinstatement of a steel grille door and various repairs. Some signage will also be required. It has additionally been agreed that the interior walls could be lime washed, thereby improving the appearance and light levels within the space.

Additionally two wall-mounted graphic panels, one per floor, will be required. A free-standing lectern panel, on the first floor beneath the windows, is also desirable as this could interpret the buildings of the inner ward.

2.6 Location: second floor exhibition in the keep

The second floor of the keep currently contains an exhibition that tells the story of Carlisle Castle. The displays date from the 1980s, do not represent current best practice in interpretation and, where relevant, the content will be provided in the new exhibition. Objects from the current displays will also be re-used in the new exhibition. The old displays are to be removed as part of this project. An assessment of this, and of the costs for removal, will be made as soon as possible.

One panel, that which introduces the exhibition, must be retained as it contains lighting for the passageway and various other essential electrical components. The panel will need to be repaired however and the content should be updated and replaced.

Two new free-standing lectern panels are proposed for the main rooms on the second floor, in order to provide an introduction to the spaces and to interpret the so-called prisoners’ carvings.

Additionally, the existing panel on the first floor should be replaced in order to match the design of the new panels on the second floor.

The details for these panels are to be confirmed subject to budget; however it is essential that some interpretation is provided for the second floor as part of this project. 3. Themes

The exhibition will need to tell a coherent story, replacing the existing exhibition on the 2 nd floor of the keep. It will act as a suitable introduction to supplementary presentations in the keep and elsewhere, if and when these happen. Equally, it will have to stand on its own, if plans to re-present the rest of the castle do not happen, or take a long time to.

3.1. Themes for the whole site

The following themes have been identified in the interpretation plan for the whole castle.

Overarching theme statement:: Carlisle Castle has playedplayed an important role in British history for more than 900 years because of its location close to the border to Scotland. It is a significant landmark within the city, region and country.

1. The site of Carlisle Castle has been in use as a military base for 1,900 years. 2. Carlisle Castle has been under siege more than any other castle in England. 3. The castle buildings have evolved over the centuries to meet the changing demands of their owners. 4. Carlisle Castle has hosted many Royal visits.

One of the most important themes – Carlisle Castle has been under siege more than any other castle in England – has provisionally been chosen as the main narrative for the keep.

3.2. Theme for the exhibition

Given that the exhibition will represent the main, and for some visitors only, interpretation that they encounter on site it should address the longevity of its history, as represented by theme 1: The site of Carlisle Castle has been in use as a military base for 1,900 years.

This will provide an overview of the castle’s past and enable us to introduce both the English and Scottish sides of the story.

4.4.4. OuOuOutlineOu tline --- content and media

4.1. Timeline and characters

A simple timeline is proposed to convey the length of history, and to graphically illustrate the frequency with which Carlisle has been attacked, besieged, and changed hands – without pre-empting the theme too much.

The suggestion is that the timeline could be displayed on a plinth running around the edges of the room, with wall-mounted panels appearing at intervals to represent the major periods or events in the castle’s history. A display case and interactive exhibit will be housed within the plinth beneath each panel.

It would be advantageous to use graphics of characters to ‘people’ the exhibition and link to the different periods in the castle’s history. Characters would include a mix of nationality, gender and social class. There will only be real historical portraits of a few of them and therefore some characters would have to be represented either by a generic image from the period, or by an imaginary portrait. If we do follow this approach then it may be better for all of the portraits to be imaginary.

4.2. Objects

There are rich collections of historic views and photographs of the castle; however the question of objects is more difficult. Until the 1960s, historic objects found in or associated with the castle all ended up in the Border Regiment Museum. There are hardly any archaeological finds from within the castle, as there has never been a properly-conducted archaeological excavation inside. The finds from the major excavations on the green outside are all in Tullie House. The more important finds are Roman, and Tullie House have major presentations on Roman Carlisle, which make use of the better finds, anyway.

There are however certain items in our collections and a few pieces that we could borrow that can be used to support the exhibition, representing the time depth of the site and the theme of attack and defence. This has been discussed with Kevin Booth and suggestions for objects are included below. The objects will be related to the timeline, some of the interactive exhibits and also to educational resources due to be developed to accompany the new exhibition.

Costs for conservation and display cases are included in the accompanying budget.

4.3. Access

A virtual tour of the castle, particularly the keep, will be included because most of the buildings are not accessible for visitors with limited mobility. Primarily this will be an access tool, likely to consist of 360 degree room views linked to floor plans, as opposed to a reconstruction of the buildings or an interpretive tool. However, it is likely that it will incorporate some interpretation of the views.

A certain amount of seating is to be provided along the window wall for the comfort of visitors.

4.4 Historical eras - characters, artefacts and exhibits

An introductory panel will be required, probably including a map illustrating the proximity of the border with Scotland.

(Plan of room indicating placement of eras and other elements of exhibition - to follow)

1. Roman Carlisle

Messages: Carlisle was founded c. AD 78-9 by the Roman governor Agricola. It was the most important Roman settlement on the west side of the border region, and remained so until c. AD 400. A series of Roman forts were built here, and garrisons drawn from far afield lived here – notably from Thrace.

Character: Gnaeus Julius Agricola or a legionary soldier

Objects: Cased - Stone Ballista balls from the fort (Tullie House); Arrow heads and Ballista bolts (TH)

Exhibit: a simple jigsaw or slide-puzzle to ‘rebuild’ the Roman altar that was used as a door arch in de Ireby’s Tower and displayed there. The inscription refers to troops from Thrace – modern Turkey – an insight into the size and cosmopolitan nature of the Roman Empire.

2. The Norman Castle

Messages: Carlisle and northern Cumbria were disputed territory in the 11 th and 12 th centuries. William II Rufus marched north and conquered it in 1092, and founded the modern city. He probably established an earthwork castle on the site.

David I of Scotland won this territory back c. 1135, in the anarchy after King Stephen’s usurpation of the English throne. David was notably ‘European’ in outlook, introducing Anglo-Norman culture to Scotland. He may well have built the keep here – ironic, given that Carlisle is often thought of as an English bulwark against the Scots. Henry II then recovered Carlisle, and the rest of this territory, in 1157.

Character: William II Rufus or David I of Scotland. Preference would be David I so we have a Scottish voice.

Objects: Cased - coin of Rufus from the Castle trenches (TH); period arrowheads (TH - Millennium dig)

Exhibit: Cutaway model of the keep, showing that it looked very different, and was conceived as a grand residence. This would be displayed in the centre of the room to allow visitors to walk around it and would include hands-on elements (for example samples of the different stones that were used to face the walls originally and today) and interpretation panels. (Steven Brindle has researched this in detail in readiness for commissioning a model maker.)

3. Royal City ––– War with Scotland

Messages: Edward I came and resided in Carlisle several times when planning his conquest of Scotland, for several months at the end of his life, 1307.

The castle – planned as the centre of royal authority in the region – actually became a royal palace, with a great hall and chambers – though Edward seems to have stayed in the cathedral priory, while Queen Margaret stayed here. Mary Queen of Scots Tower probably built for her.

As the tide of war turned again, after the disastrous English defeat at Bannockburn, Carlisle was under siege again. Sir Andrew Harclay defended it bravely and successfully – but lost his head in the turbulent politics of the age.

Character: Edward I, Queen Margaret or Andrew Harclay. Preference would be Queen Margaret to provide a female voice.

Objects: Cased - Suitable Scottish form projectiles (National Museum Scotland/Royal Armouries)

Exhibit: Trebuchet model from current exhibition

4. Island of Law and Order.....

Messages: Edward I and Edward II’s attempts to conquer Scotland poisoned the relationship between the countries, leading to centuries of low-level conflict. Carlisle Castle remained the principal royal fortress – seat of the Warden of the West March, centre of royal power, and prison. The Wardens could be very grand people – like Richard, Duke of Gloucester, or Thomas, Lord Dacre. They could have very grand prisoners – the grandest being Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1567.

Character: Thomas, Lord Dacre, or Mary, Queen of Scots. Again we could use this as a way of introducing a female character, a character also popular in the responses to the visitor survey.

Objects: Open display - Stone ball from siege of Norham (EH, believed to be from Mons Meg, which was possibly used at Carlisle in 1461); cased - Iron hand gun (Hackbutt) currently on display (TH)

Exhibit: A full-size cast of part of the carvings in the keep, providing access to them for those who cannot climb the keep stairs. The carvings are more likely to be about quasi-tribal loyalty to the local big families, the Percies and Dacres, than to be by prisoners – but this still ties in to our themes well. There are ways that this could be an interactive exhibit, for example if the carvings were presented and identified through a touchscreen game or simple mechanical exhibit. Costs for scanning the carvings have been estimated as £5-7,000.

5. ….in a SSSeaSea of LLLawlessnessLawlessnessawlessness....

Messages: The border regions descended into a chaos of lawlessness, in which armed bands of ‘rievers’, from local clans and extended families, robbed, murdered and extorted. The economy of the whole region suffered as a result. The Wardens did their best, but even when they managed to catch the ring-leaders, they couldn’t always hold onto them. ‘Kinmont Willie’ was sprung from the castle in 1596.

Character: Kinmont Willie (William Armstrong of Kinmont)

Objects: cased - musket and cannon balls from the riever period; open display, out of reach - replica armour from current display

Exhibit: Handling objects - replica armour/riever costumes

Note: major theme for education visitsvisits,,,, needs to complement the DV.

6.6.6. Civil War ––– invasion ––– and the worst siege yet…

Messages: The Union of the Crowns in 1603, and the pacification of the borders seemed to rob Carlisle of its old role and character, but not for long. Carlisle stood for King Charles in the Civil War, but most of the Scots came out on the side of Parliament. When they invaded in October 1644, King Charles was unable to send anyone to help. The town and castle held out together for nine months – one of the longest and most desperate sieges of a whole community in British history. When news came of the final royalist defeat at Naseby, there was no point holding out any longer.

Character: Sir Thomas Glemham, commander of the garrison during the siege, or General David Leslie, Scots commander. Someone low-born?

Objects: Cased - civil war cannon balls from the current display; civil war coinage from Carlisle (BM/TH)

Exhibit: An audio post featuring commentary of an actor reading evocative passages from the archive accounts of the siege

Note: major theme for education visitsvisits,, needs to complement the DV.

7. LLLastLast invasion, and last sieges ––– the crisis of 17451745----6666

Messages: Carlisle decayed quietly for most of the 18 th century – except for the turbulent story of 1745-6. Prince Charles Edward approached the town – and this time it surrendered after a week. A few months later, it was the other way round as the Duke of Cumberland’s army approached the city.

Character: Prince Charles Edward or Colonel James Durand - or both to give opposing views?

Objects: Open display - suitable period projectiles (KOBR museum)

Exhibit: Touchscreen game linking the different projectiles on display with the weapons that fired them and the places they could have been used around the castle

888.8. Your country needs You! Home of the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment

Messages: From the early 19C, the castle was home to a regular garrison, and remained home to this famous regiment, drawn from generations of Cumberland and Westmorland men, until 1959. Their story is told in the Regimental Museum.

Character: A recruit - preferably female - from the Great War.

Objects: Open display - WWI shell (KOBR museum); Recruitment posters from the Museum, framed.