Sunday, 18th May 2025

On the 16th of May 2025, Trident Manor staff undertook security reviews at the ancestral homes of two former US Presidents and a museum dedicated to the only US Ranger battalion formed outside the United States.

Following an early morning flight, our managing director, Andy Davis, arrived at the ancestral home of the 7th President of the United States (Andrew Jackson) where he met with staff from the Mid and East Antrim Council to undertake a security review. 

The area surrounding the museum has now been built up with residential buildings overlooking, and to a degree, providing secondary surveillance over the site, which they all have a vested interest in maintaining and protecting. Andy commented, "When you have historical buildings, it is important that solutions which are provided are sensible and proportionate. Gun metal grey does not go well in a traditional Irish cottage." "You have to continue to adopt a risk-based approach that considers the assets being protected and the historical nature of the venue. It often requires lateral thinking instead of a pre-defined answer, which may protect but is not operationally or culturally acceptable."

 On the same grounds as the Andrew Jackson museum is a small museum dedicated to the only US Ranger Battalion formed outside the USA in Carrickfergus. The museum shared some great historical information alongside uniforms and mementoes from the Second World War. It was great to see visitors from the USA while there and listen to the excellent invigilation provided by the staff. 

  

Unlike the historical cottage, this was a modern building, and as such, more acceptable risk-based solutions could be recommended to protect and preserve the assets on display.

Following lunch, the adventure continued with a visit to 'Arthur's Cottage, the ancestral home of Chester Alan Arthur, the 21st President of the United States. Not only was a security review undertaken of the cottage and the interpretation centre, but security advice and guidance was provided for the future redevelopment of the site. 

Andy said, "It is a pleasure supporting museums irrespective of their size or location, especially when they are proactively seeking to protect their assets for future generations. You don't have to be a huge museum to be a great one, this trip showed two great museums with loads of potential being professionally run and managed."

And it didn't rain! An added bonus.

Our cultural protection services and accredited training programmes (the only accredited cultural protection training programmes in the UK) are delivered globally. If you would like to find out more about how we can help protect your museum and its assets, please feel free to contact us to discuss your needs.