31-08-2012 - 01-09-2012
Connecting Light on Hadrians Wall
Times
8pm to 11pm
Cost
Free
Connecting Light is a major new art installation along the line of Hadrian's Wall, as part of the programme for the London 2012 Festival.
The Festival is a spectacular 12-week nationwide celebration which brings together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK. It gives people across the UK the opportunity to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A Visual and Technological Spectacle
Using a series of 400 tethered weather balloons, approximately 6ft in diameter and lit by internal LED lights, the Connecting Light installation will become a line of pulsating colours as messages are sent to and along Hadrian's Wall. It will be visible in the evening (8pm to 11pm) and best accessed by visitors at 9 manned locations. It is also being designed to be viewed remotely across the world using digital media. Messages sent through computers, smartphones and tablets will be encoded, and become visible as coloured pulses travelling along the Wall. The public can choose to interact either along the Wall or remotely from anywhere via:
www.hadrians-wall.org
www.connectinglight.info
@ConnectingLight
#ConnectingLight
See it BEST at THESE MANNED LOCATIONS
The following managed properties are some of the best locations where visitors can participate in this unique event.
1. Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum
Hadrian’s Wall most-excavated fort with spectacular reconstructions of the bath house and Wall section, original Wall, a computer-generated history tour and a 35m high viewing tower. The car park at Segedunum will become a large viewing area to see balloons at the museum and around.
www.twmuseums.org.uk/segedunum
Buddle Street, Wallsend NE28 6HR
0191 236 9347
- Vallum Farm
Vallum Farm is right in the heart of Hadrian's Wall Country as the Roman name implies. They are at milecastle 18, on land which would have been used for farming in Roman times, with evidence of the Wall all around. Vallum Farm is a great place to visit – wonderful food, fantastic views, and lots of do for the whole family. Bookings are being taken for a special Connecting Light inspired evening meals.
East Wallhouses, Military Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE18 OLL
01434 672 652
- Errington Arms
The Errington Arms has a colourful history which can be traced back to the 1750s when it was originally a coaching house. The Errington Arms was aptly named after a local family from Corbridge in the Tyne Valley and stands only a stones throw away from Hadrian’s Wall. The Errington attracts many visitors every year from around the world and serves as a traditional pub and restaurant. Parking available at the pub.
The master balloon’s location is Downhill Quarry close by.
Errington Arms, Corbridge, NorthumberlandNE45 5QB
01434 672250
- Housesteads Roman Fort
The best preserved fort on the Wall, with magnificent ruins (including a multi-seated latrine, hospital and perimeter wall), a museum and truly spectacular and iconic views.
Park at Housesteads for stunning views up toward the fort from the National Trust information centre, where visitors will also be able to enjoy warm drinks and snacks, and toilet facilities.The fort lies uphill from the car park, which is a fairly strenuous ten-minute walk on steep gradient.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/housesteads
Bardon Mill NE47 6NN (3 miles NE of Bardon Mill)
01434 344363
- Steel Rigg
Part of the original Wall, sited in stunning scenery, providing many iconic views of Hadrian’s Wall. Steel Rigg has a 32-bay car path and is close to Once Brewed Visitor Centre, an award-winning Tourist Information Centre and the main tourist centre for exploring Northumberland National Park and the World Heritage Site. www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/visiting/placestovisit/hadrianswallvisiting/oncebrewed
Military Road, Bardon Mill, Hexham, Northumberland NE47 7AN
01434 344396
- Walltown Crags
Walltown is a former quarry cutting dramatically through Hadrian’s Wall and the underlying Whin Sill dolerite bedrock. It has been landscaped and developed as a recreational site with an extensive network of paths and ponds. From here visitors can walk up to the well preserved section of the Wall at Walltown Crags overlooking the site. There are also a CCTV monitored car park, cycle storage and a seasonal visitor centre. There over 50 spaces, including 3 bays for disabled badge holders and electric charging points.
Connecting Light will be visible at the top of Walltown Crags. www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/visiting/placestovisit/hadrianswallvisiting/walltown
Grid Reference: NY 669659
01434 322002
- Birdoswald Roman Fort
The original turf Wall, great stone sections east and west, plus well-preserved fort defences and a visitor centre with full-size Wall replica. Parking is located approx 200 metres from the site with room for over 50 cars.
Connecting Light will be best seen at Harrow Scar, a short walk east from Birdoswald (¼-mile).
www.english-heritage.org.uk/birdoswald
CA8 7DD (2 miles W of Gilsland)
016977 47602
- Walby Farm Park
Just 4 miles from Carlisle and the M6 motorway (J44), Walby Farm Park is a great day out for the whole family, with exciting outdoor play areas, lots of animal friends, including many rare breeds and Cumbria’s biggest indoor play area. ‘Meet the Animals’, take a stroll along the farm’s nature trail or just relax in the Curly Tails Café, open daily serving delicious hot and cold home-cooked food.
Park at Walby Farm to see the Connecting Light balloons close by.
Walby, Crosby-on-Eden, Carlisle, Cumbria CA6 4QL
01228 573056
- Carlisle Castle
Standing proudly in the city it has dominated for nine centuries, Carlisle Castle was a constantly updated working fortress until well within living memory. Now its rich and varied visitor attractions reflect its long and eventful history. Even before the medieval castle was begun, this site was an important Roman fortress. Today, it still plays a prominent role as one of Cumbria’s best-loved landmarks. Parking at the castle itself is only available for disabled visitors, but there are several car parks nearby in the city centre. These are sign-posted and charged-for. Devonshire Wall car park is next to the castle.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/carlisle-castle/
Castle Way, Carlisle CA3 8UR
01228 591922
If you are more independently minded or have an adventurous spirit, and wish to see Connecting Light on your own, there will be balloons along the length of the Wall, from Wallsend in the east, to Bowness-on-Solway in the west.
Please take care with parking and access as it will be dark. Be aware that anyone travelling to view the Connecting Light installation outside of any of the carefully selected viewing areas does so completely at their own risk. As such we would urge people to behave responsibly and to take utmost care for the health and safety of themselves and other members of the public. Please do not park on roadside verges or trespass onto private land. Please take care when crossing roads, especially in the dark. For health and safety reasons our advice is that visitors are strongly advised not to try and access the Wall at any point other than the designated viewing areas.
The event is organised by Hadrian's Wall Trust and Connecting Light is being designed by New York based digital arts collective YesYesNo with Zachary Lieberman.
For more information on times and how you can get involved, please visit www.hadrians-wall.org/london2012
Support the World Heritage Site
Hadrian’s Wall is a World Heritage Site. It is hugely popular with visitors resulting in increased pressure on the delicate landscape and archaeology. If you would like to help ensure its conservation, you can help via TextGiving.
Text Wall22 and your donation to 70070 e.g. Wall22 £10 to 70070
All donations to the Hadrian’s Wall Trust are greatly appreciated, even if you can only spare a pound.
Hadrian's Wall