Councillor hits out at visitor fee for Leicester's Jewry Wall Museum

Image: courtesy of Leicester Museums

A Conservative councillor at Leicester City Council has raised concerns about a visitor charge being introduced at Jewry Wall Museum, which is reopening this summer after an eight-year closure, according to the Museums Association.

It reports:

'The museum, which is on the site of a Roman bath house in Leicester, announced recently that it would reopen to the public on 26 July with an entry fee of £12.50 for all visitors.

'It comes as the council is considering a wider shake-up of its museum service, including the potential closure of Belgrave Hall and reduced opening hours at Abbey Pumping Station and the Newarke Houses Museum.

'Councillor Hemant Rae Bhatia described the Jewry Wall redevelopment as a "vanity project" and called for the museum to offer free entry or discounted rates for Leicester residents, Leicestershire Live reports.

'Rae Bhatia said: "While local services face the axe under this Labour administration, [city mayor] Sir Peter Soulsby is now rolling out costly attractions that many residents won’t be able to afford to visit."

'Soulsby said the redevelopment of Jewry Wall had "faced more than its fair share of challenges" but would offer visitors "another must-see attraction in our historic city".

'The remains of the bath house have been incorporated into the redeveloped museum, with more than 100 Roman artefacts on display, all hailing from Leicester and Leicestershire.

'The Grade II listed building that housed the old museum has been refurbished, with glass walls connecting the ancient Jewry Wall and the outdoor space to the modern exhibition space inside, and a new pedestrian bridge making the building fully accessible for the first time.

'The new museum will incorporate the latest digital technology to bring the past to life for visitors.

'Visitors will be greeted with an immersive film taking them on a journey through the excavated areas of Roman Leicester, while interactive displays, games and projections will allow people to explore the 2nd century site and experience everyday life in Leicester as it was around 2,000 years ago.

'Characterisations of the buildings and the people of Roman Leicester, created by artist Scott Tetlow, will help to animate the story, giving visitors an insight into the public and private lives of the residents of Ratae Corieltauvorum ­– the Roman name for the city of Leicester.

'Managed by the same team responsible for the award-winning King Richard III Visitor Centre, the museum will also have a new cafe overlooking the remains of the Roman bath house, which will be open every day and will not require an admission ticket.

'Soulsby said: “It’s fair to say that this project has faced more than its fair share of challenges, with a global pandemic and not one but two key contractors going out of business during the construction phase, so I’m delighted that we can now – finally – look forward to the opening of this brilliant new attraction for Leicester.

'“Everything that will be on display in the new museum has been discovered right here in Leicester and Leicestershire, from the Blackfriars Mosaic that’s been described as one of the finest mosaics found in Roman Britain, to a beautifully crafted bronze key handle that depicts a man grappling with a lion, uncovered by archaeologists right next to Jewry Wall on Great Central Street in 2016.

'“The opening of the new museum on Saturday 26 July means that Leicester can finally shout about its Roman roots, offering visitors another must-see attraction in our historic city and making local people even more proud of Leicester’s extraordinary 2,000-year history.”

'The first visitors will be welcomed at 10am on Saturday 26 July.'