Organisation: Historic England
Principal investigator: Gill Campbell
Project overview
Fort Cumberland in Portsmouth is an 18th century, pentagonal-shaped bastion fort and a scheduled monument in England. It houses the Fort Cumberland Laboratories, which contain nationally important reference collections and a wide array of analytical and imaging equipment.
However, the ageing infrastructure has raised concern for the care of the collections due to inappropriate climate conditions. The current capabilities and limited access to the collections hinder the potential impact of research at Fort Cumberland.
Project purpose
The project aims to upgrade and expand access to the heritage science collections at Fort Cumberland. The project aims to optimise the care, research potential and long-term preservation of the collections, the project will upgrade the storage facilities to meet current regulations and adapt to climate change.
Additionally, a comprehensive plan for collection storage and curation will be developed, aligning with the Future for Archaeological Archives Programme (FAAP). The Heritage Science Collections Hub: South (HSCH:S) at Fort Cumberland aims to establish a national centre of excellence for interdisciplinary research, training and public engagement in heritage science.
Project impacts
This project will significantly enhance the accessibility and value of the collections by transforming aging infrastructure and providing improved conditions for long-term preservation.
Expanded access will support high-quality, interdisciplinary research and will create new opportunities in heritage science. This project is partnered with the Ark of the North in Scotland and SHEFF BIOARCH in Sheffield, creating a network of collection hubs. This collaboration ensures that heritage science equipment, expertise, and resources are accessible throughout the UK.
