The Roman Baths: A place of recovery
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 04/04/2019

It is perhaps a coincidence that the site chosen to trial a programme of work called ‘Recovery Through Heritage’ was a Roman Bathhouse, in that it not only provides a convenient archaeological case study to explore ideas of historical well-being but also demonstrates the benefits of archaeology to help in recovery work. Working in partnership with Phoenix Futures, a charity that supports people with alcohol and drug problems, the HLF and HES supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership heritage program (CAVLP Heritage) delivered by Northlight Heritage, has piloted a program that has worked with service users to design a heritage trail, enhance archaeological sites, focusing on the Roman Bathhouse at Strathclyde Park, and help out on archaeological digs. This program has resulted in a number of outputs and outcomes and has been beneficial for the archaeology, service users, the wider community, and ourselves as practitioners. This paper will outline the ways that the ‘Recovery through Heritage’ programme was developed, the archaeological and recovery outcomes achieved, the problems and challenges that have been encountered, and how they have been overcome. 

Paul Murtagh (Northlight Heritage)