The Archway Project at the Roman Baths, which received planning permission earlier this month, has passed a major funding milestone with a donation from charitable grant-making foundation.
The Garfield Weston Foundation has given a £75,000 grant to the project, which includes a new learning centre for the Roman Baths and a world heritage centre.
London-based Garfield Weston Foundation is a family-founded, grant-
The Archway Project will increase the space dedicated to education at the Roman Baths by 400%.
Two new classrooms will enable the Roman Baths to develop formal and informal learning programmes, engaging a wide range of communities and audiences.
The learning centre, pictured, right, in a CGI image, will be connected to the Roman Baths by a tunnel through Roman remains beneath York Street.
An underground investigation zone will provide hands-on access to Roman remains through facilitated learning sessions.
The Roman Baths has submitted a second stage application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to secure a grant of nearly £3.5m towards the £5m project. The HLF is due to make a decision later this year.
If the fundraising target is achieved, building work will start in summer 2017 and the new Learning Centre and World Heritage Centre will open in early 2019.
Garfield Weston Foundation director Philippa Charles added: “We are delighted to be supporting this project, which will improve the learning experience for those who visit the Baths, which are such an important part of the UK’s heritage.”
The Garfield Weston Foundation donated more than £58m in the most recent financial year. It was established in 1958 by businessman and philanthropist Willard Garfield Weston and since then has donated more than £900m, making it one of the UK’s largest charitable institutions.
Its trustees are descendants of the founder and the Weston Family takes a highly active and hands-on approach.
The Roman Baths Foundation has been set up to raise funds for conservation and education work at the Roman Baths. The Archway Project is the charitable company’s first flagship project.
