Nautical Archaeology Society receives largest grant in 50-year history for Sandwich Bay project
The project will focus on documenting coastal heritage sites and artefacts
The Nautical Archaeology Society has received a £199,060 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a project focused on the coastal archaeology of Sandwich Bay in Kent.
The Coastal Pasts – Connecting Community with Coastal Heritage at Sandwich Bay project will support the investigation and recording of archaeological sites in the area while establishing a community group dedicated to exploring and sharing local coastal heritage.
The grant is the largest single award received by the Nautical Archaeology Society in its 50-year history.
The Nautical Archaeology Society is a registered charity established in 1972. The organisation researches, records and protects coastal and underwater heritage sites while encouraging public participation in maritime archaeology.
Sandwich Bay contains archaeological remains spanning several centuries. According to the organisation, environmental pressures and human activity are placing increasing strain on these heritage assets. The project aims to investigate eleven currently unidentified wooden wrecks and improve understanding of artefacts that continue to wash up along the shoreline.
Over a three-year period, a part-time locally based project officer will support a community heritage group involving participants of different ages. The group will focus on recording and protecting coastal archaeological remains while creating digital resources that help make the area’s history accessible through online platforms.
Planned activities include low-tide surveys, artefact identification sessions, conservation training, photogrammetry workshops, excavation of a shipwreck, school engagement activities, community talks and archival research intended to assist with wreck identification. The project will also use augmented reality technology to create digital reconstructions of wreck sites.
Information about participation in the community group and applications for the local project officer role is available through the Nautical Archaeology Society website.
The project is also intended to serve as a pilot programme that could be adapted by other communities looking to record and protect coastal and underwater heritage in their own areas.
Mark Beattie-Edwards, CEO of the Nautical Archaeology Society, says: “We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to connect the local community to the coastal heritage at Sandwich Bay and actively protect it for future generations, and for the benefit of everyone.”
Stuart McLeod, director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, adds: “Sandwich Bay is home to a remarkable coastal heritage and thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this project will help local people explore, record and protect its unique stories. We’re delighted to support the Nautical Archaeology Society in creating a model that can inspire communities across the UK to safeguard their own coastal heritage for generations to come.”
The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports heritage projects across the UK. Under its Heritage 2033 strategy, the organisation plans to invest £3.6bn raised through National Lottery funding in projects involving people, places and communities over the next decade.
Leave a Reply