‘Richborough was a gateway to Roman Britain for people coming from across the empire,’ says properties historian Dr Andrew Roberts. ‘But we also conceive it as a metaphorical gateway – it is one of the best places to get an introduction to Roman Britain.’ The first things you see when you arrive are the stone shore fort walls, built after AD 275. A path leads to the visitor centre, which was once the custodian’s cottage. The building has been redesigned, with the museum now occupying a bright and airy space, alongside an education room and shop.

It’s not just the museum’s configuration that’s changed – its contents have too. They now give a broader understanding of the location, its people and its varied history. While the first half of the space is themed around ‘connections’, looking at Richborough’s role within Roman Britain, the second half focuses on ‘identity’ and the people who lived in the fort, port and town. On entering, a short film details the chronology, while characterful illustrations of the inhabitants of Richborough, as well as of those working on recent excavations, adorn the walls. On display is a wealth of artefacts, ranging from a limestone statue of a goddess to a soldier’s brooch.

Other changes across the site include the replica Roman gateway, reconstructed on the exact spot of an original fortification built in AD 43, which stands eight metres high. ‘There was little to show the significance of Richborough as the beginning of the Roman invasion and we wanted to mark this out,’ says senior properties historian Paul Pattison, who masterminded the project. ‘We also wanted to give people an elevated view so they can better see how the site changed during the Roman era.’

Within the walls and defensive ditches, the ruins of the chapel and bathhouse are brought to life by refreshed interpretation and an audio tour. It features Dr Andrew Roberts in conversation with historian Dr Tessa Dunlop, with guest appearances to help make connections between past and present, including boxer Chev Clarke, who gives a different perspective on the amphitheatre.

‘Gateway to Britannia is a holistic revamp of the whole site,’ says Pattison. ‘We hope there’s something for everyone. We’d like the visitor to better understand what Richborough was in Roman times, as well as who the Romans were beyond the stereotype of a bloke in uniform with a crested helmet and a sword.’

The Gateway to Britannia project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund

Half of the objects now on display are never-before-seen, chosen by Moffett to help the visitor realise that ‘these are people who have tastes like me, who maybe wear jewellery like me, who play games like me.’ Standout objects include a lapis lazuli bead that would have been mined in Afghanistan, traded through ports in India, eventually making its way to Rome and finally on to Britain.

To help visualise Wroxeter’s townsfolk, various Roman characters have been woven into the interpretation across the site including a wealthy family, traders, slaves and even a witch. Interactive games, a projection and an audio guide all add to the experience. ‘The museum is absolutely essential in telling the story of Wroxeter,’ says Moffett.

A series of recently commissioned pieces is a particular highlight. The first is an audio poem, The Refuge Box by Katrina Porteous, which visitors can download or sit and listen to. In addition, the artist Olivia Lomenech Gill, who illustrated JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts, has created a mixed-media work, Shifting Sands, which takes inspiration from the island’s history as a place of pilgrimage.

Lomenech Gill has also created six illustrations of birds and beasts based on the priory’s illuminated manuscript, The Lindisfarne Gospels, which are part of a family trail. Outside, sculptor Russ Coleman has created a memorial to Cuthbert that sits within the presbytery ruins.

‘It’s a huge transformation of the space – it now has the look and feel of a bright, modern museum,’ says collections curator Susan Harrison. ‘The objects are beautifully displayed and lit, enabling visitors to really appreciate the history of Lindisfarne and to better understand the significance of Holy Island, and the part Lindisfarne Monastery and Priory played in Christianity.’