The architecture is by Richard Elphick of Elphick Associates / Photo: Sally Ann Norman
The Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery has opened in Wooler, UK, bringing to life the Golden Age of the seventh century Northumbrian royal court.
The £16m attraction showcases the hidden history of the Anglo-Saxon court of Northumbria discovered five miles away at Yeavering in the 1950s – widely considered to be one of the 20th century’s most remarkable archaeological finds.
With anticipated visitor numbers of 35,000 in the first year, rising to around 50,000 thereafter, Ad Gefrin celebrates and showcases the unique heritage, ancient hospitality and contemporary crafts, arts and produce of Northumberland. The site includes a bistro, bar, gift shop and the Ad Gefrin whisky distillery – home to the first Northumbrian English Single Malt Whisky.
Stills were produced by Forsyths of Speyside and drive production at the county’s first (legal) whisky distillery in 200 years.
“Since the very beginning of this project, we strongly believed that the story of Yeavering and of the ‘Golden Age of Northumbria’ was worth sharing with the world,” says Ad Gefrin director of experience, Chris Ferguson.
The experience For an entry fee of £10, visitors get self-guided day-long access to the Great Hall with a fully immersive AV experience and unlimited museum access. The next price point – the £25 entrance ticket – includes a guided 90-minute tour of the distillery, cask store, tasting room and a whisky tasting.
On display in the museum are archaeologically-important artefacts found at the original site and borrowed from leading international museums and collections, including the British Museum.
“The museum is about far more than just giving visitors a memorable experience,” says co-founder, Eileen Ferguson, “it’s also about re-introducing them to a part of Northumberland’s history and heritage that many people in the county simply aren’t aware of. For us, Ad Gefrin has always been about community.
“There’s a deep-seated sense of hope that builds from a pride in our connection to our past and our present, nurturing a confidence in ourselves as individuals and as a community. We also made a decision that all the staff and virtually all the companies involved in the project should come from within borders of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria to boost the economy and profile of the area.”
Making it happen The building was designed by local architect Richard Elphick to resemble an Anglo-Saxon Great Hall with the whisky stills visible to passers by through large windows overlooking the road. Builders Brimms Construction were the main contractors and local craftsman Albert Fairnington produced the dome-like atrium of the entrance hall, which is lined with more than 9,300 pine tiles. International exhibition and interpretive designers StudioMB were responsible for the Great Hall, museum, cask store and the interiors of the bistro and shop while lighting designer Michael Grubb produced lighting effects throughout the building.
Standing in front of the hearth in the recreated Great Hall, visitors are swept up in the rich stories of the time, through immersive AV technology also supplied by StudioMB. Even the walls of the tasting room change to reflect the Northumberland countryside’s seasonal appearance.
Ad Gefrin has received funding towards the construction phase from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, the North East Rural Growth Network – Strategic Economic Infrastructure Fund (SEIF), North East LEP and Northumberland County Council. The project has been made possible in partnership with the Gefrin Trust.
FAST FACTS
Partners: The Gefrin Trust, the British Museum, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Ford & Etal Estates, and the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne
Architect: Richard Elphick
Exhibition designers: Studio MB
Lighting designer: Michael Grubb Studio
Anticipated dwell time: 2-3 hours
Anticipated visitor numbers: 3,500 for the first year, then 5,000 a year after that
Entry price: Great Hall & Museum: Adults £10 Children £5. This gives visitors self-guided day-long access to the Great Hall with AV experience and unlimited museum access
Great Hall, museum, distillery tour & tasting: Adults £25 Children over 8 years £12.50. This gives access to the Great Hall and a guided 90-minute tour of the distillery, cask store, tasting room and whisky tasting
Opening dates: Open every day apart from Tuesdays, 10am-6pm. Ad Gefrin is open all year round apart from the second and third weeks of January
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The architecture is by Richard Elphick of Elphick Associates / Photo: Sally Ann Norman
The Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery has opened in Wooler, UK, bringing to life the Golden Age of the seventh century Northumbrian royal court.
The £16m attraction showcases the hidden history of the Anglo-Saxon court of Northumbria discovered five miles away at Yeavering in the 1950s – widely considered to be one of the 20th century’s most remarkable archaeological finds.
With anticipated visitor numbers of 35,000 in the first year, rising to around 50,000 thereafter, Ad Gefrin celebrates and showcases the unique heritage, ancient hospitality and contemporary crafts, arts and produce of Northumberland. The site includes a bistro, bar, gift shop and the Ad Gefrin whisky distillery – home to the first Northumbrian English Single Malt Whisky.
Stills were produced by Forsyths of Speyside and drive production at the county’s first (legal) whisky distillery in 200 years.
“Since the very beginning of this project, we strongly believed that the story of Yeavering and of the ‘Golden Age of Northumbria’ was worth sharing with the world,” says Ad Gefrin director of experience, Chris Ferguson.
The experience For an entry fee of £10, visitors get self-guided day-long access to the Great Hall with a fully immersive AV experience and unlimited museum access. The next price point – the £25 entrance ticket – includes a guided 90-minute tour of the distillery, cask store, tasting room and a whisky tasting.
On display in the museum are archaeologically-important artefacts found at the original site and borrowed from leading international museums and collections, including the British Museum.
“The museum is about far more than just giving visitors a memorable experience,” says co-founder, Eileen Ferguson, “it’s also about re-introducing them to a part of Northumberland’s history and heritage that many people in the county simply aren’t aware of. For us, Ad Gefrin has always been about community.
“There’s a deep-seated sense of hope that builds from a pride in our connection to our past and our present, nurturing a confidence in ourselves as individuals and as a community. We also made a decision that all the staff and virtually all the companies involved in the project should come from within borders of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria to boost the economy and profile of the area.”
Making it happen The building was designed by local architect Richard Elphick to resemble an Anglo-Saxon Great Hall with the whisky stills visible to passers by through large windows overlooking the road. Builders Brimms Construction were the main contractors and local craftsman Albert Fairnington produced the dome-like atrium of the entrance hall, which is lined with more than 9,300 pine tiles. International exhibition and interpretive designers StudioMB were responsible for the Great Hall, museum, cask store and the interiors of the bistro and shop while lighting designer Michael Grubb produced lighting effects throughout the building.
Standing in front of the hearth in the recreated Great Hall, visitors are swept up in the rich stories of the time, through immersive AV technology also supplied by StudioMB. Even the walls of the tasting room change to reflect the Northumberland countryside’s seasonal appearance.
Ad Gefrin has received funding towards the construction phase from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, the North East Rural Growth Network – Strategic Economic Infrastructure Fund (SEIF), North East LEP and Northumberland County Council. The project has been made possible in partnership with the Gefrin Trust.
FAST FACTS
Partners: The Gefrin Trust, the British Museum, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Ford & Etal Estates, and the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne
Architect: Richard Elphick
Exhibition designers: Studio MB
Lighting designer: Michael Grubb Studio
Anticipated dwell time: 2-3 hours
Anticipated visitor numbers: 3,500 for the first year, then 5,000 a year after that
Entry price: Great Hall & Museum: Adults £10 Children £5. This gives visitors self-guided day-long access to the Great Hall with AV experience and unlimited museum access
Great Hall, museum, distillery tour & tasting: Adults £25 Children over 8 years £12.50. This gives access to the Great Hall and a guided 90-minute tour of the distillery, cask store, tasting room and whisky tasting
Opening dates: Open every day apart from Tuesdays, 10am-6pm. Ad Gefrin is open all year round apart from the second and third weeks of January
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2023 issue 2
Editor's letter: People power
The pandemic has been disruptive for the people in our industry. A new report shares how operators are getting creative to overcome issues
Letters: Write to reply
Liseberg CEO Andreas Andersen tells us 2023 will celebrate the past, but also be the start of something new, while BALPPA CEO Paul Kelly explains why the organisation has launched individual memberships
People: Sarah Roots
The countdown is on to the opening of Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo. We hear the latest
People: David Camp
With Puy du Fou, Eden International and Europa-Park among its clients, D&J International Consulting has done exciting work in its first decade
Interview: Scott O'Neil
US sports and entertainment veteran O’Neil is now CEO of Merlin Entertainments and he has big plans for the company. Magali Robathan sat down with him
Ethics: Reckoning with history
As a ground-breaking project aims to digitally unite Benin Bronzes for the first time, the Horniman Museum becomes the latest institution to return looted artefacts
Research: Elizabeth Merritt
What are the biggest trends affecting the museum sector? The VP of the Center for the Future of Museums shares her thoughts
Research: TrendsWatch: Building the future
A digital revolution, reparations and repatriation, partisan wars and the future of the workplace – key trends highlighted by this year’s TrendsWatch report
Research: China theme parks: New era
China is the world’s second largest market for theme parks and still has huge potential for growth, as a McKinsey report explains
Visitor centre: A golden age: Ad Gefrin
A new multi-million pound Anglo Saxon museum and whiskey distillery tells an old story in a new way. AM talks to the founders
Immersive art: House of Fun: Luna Luna
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next phase. [more...]
