UK: JORVIK Viking Centre Closed for One Year After Flooding

At the end of December last year, severe storms hit the United Kingdom and especially its northern regions. In the city of York, the Foss River overflew its banks after heavy rains and flooded several buildings. The JORVIK Viking Centre, an archaeological museum located in a basement below a shopping center, was particularly affected. In some parts of the museum the water reached a level of up to one meter. Even though the historic artefacts could be saved, the underground re-creation of a Viking street was ruined.

According to its own statement, JORVIK Viking Centre, which is owned by the York Archaeological Trust charity, will be closed until early 2017. In order to generate the amount of money necessary to reopen the facility, the museum has launched a fund raising campaign called “Campaign Canute” to collect donations of two million pounds (about 2.5 million euros). However, the money will not only be invested in renovation works but also e.g. in new exhibits and technologies to offer guests an even more comprehensive visitor experience after reopening.

Read more about the museum and its attractions in EAP, issue 5/2010. (eap)