Flodden’s Five Hundred Year-old Ecomuseum
Flodden’s Five Hundred Year-old Ecomuseum
Speaking earlier today at Heatherslaw Mill, Flodden 1513 Director Lord James Joicey and Alistair Bowden, Project Co-ordinator, announced details of the key components of the project’s Ecomuseum and its exciting planned expansion from 12 regional to 40 sites covering the whole of the UK. It is anticipated that the Expansion will include sites from Portsmouth in the south to Caithness in the north.
Of the additional 28 new sites identified, 17 have already responded positively. These range from Linlithgow, Stirling and Edinburgh Castles in Scotland, to the conserved hull of the Mary Rose in Portsmouth and the Ord of Caithness.
Giving background to the new sites Alistair Bowden, Project Co-ordinator said: “These are all sites intimately linked to the battle and together tell a rich story about Flodden. For example, the Mary Rose was employed to bring English troops and equipment to Newcastle and the Ord of Caithness is a high pass through which it is still bad luck for any member of the Sinclair Clan to travel through on a Monday, the fateful day on which the Earl of Caithness led his forces on their way to Flodden before he and many of his men perished. .”
Flodden 1513’s challenging task is to commemorate the Battle of Flodden, which 500 years ago cost ten thousand lives and was a landmark event in the creation of the UK. To do so it set up the UK’s first cross border Ecomuseum – a £1million Lottery funded project which unites the physical places, stories and communities in which the legacy of the Battle lives on.
An Ecomuseum offers a new perspective on how to interpret ‘heritage and association of place’. It allows the interconnection of sites or projects which are associated to a central theme or story without claiming central ownership or control.
Alistair adds: “They can bring together the many ways in which the consequences of Flodden are still felt and witnessed – in literature and art, national and local politics, archaeology, archives, family stories, churches, monuments and much more.”
James Joicey describes the way an Ecomuseum works, “An Ecomuseum is a loosely-structured vehicle through which local communities can manage their own heritage, by conserving their traditions and resources themselves and encouraging everyone (whether local or visitor) to learn, visit and enjoy the sites.”
There is no limit to the size of an Ecomuseum – only the vision of the organisers and willingness of the community where the site is found to participate.
Examples of the first sites in the museum are The Flodden Wall in Edinburgh – fortified by the people of the city after the news of defeat arrived, and Heatherslaw Corn Mill in north Northumberland which is adjacent to the battle site. The mill is over 700 years old and still working.
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For further information, images and interviews, please contact:
Barbara Huddart, Marketing Consultant to the Committee of the Flodden 1513 Ecomuseum, e: [email protected], t: 01668 283044
Editors’ Notes
The Battle of Flodden was the last of the great medieval battles, and virtually the last between the two nations. Only 90 years later, the kingdoms were to be united under the King of Scotland, James 6th. At Flodden, the Scottish King was James IV and Thomas Howard, the Earl of Surrey, represented Henry VIII – who was away fighting the French. It was to take advantage of his absence that the Scots Army had come south. In just a few short hours on September 9th 1513, up to 10,000 troops and camp followers, as well as the Scottish King himself, lost their lives. The outcome of the battle paved the way for the subsequent Union of the Crowns.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported over 34,000 projects, allocating £5billion across the UK. Website: www.hlf.org.uk
