Four projects have been launched as part of Ramsgate’s award of Heritage Action Zone status.
It was announced in March that Ramsgate had been chosen as one of the country’s first ‘Heritage Action Zones’, in a new nationwide scheme from Historic England.
The project is funded by an estimated £400,000 over five years, to be matched by £10,000 a year from Ramsgate Town Council.
Using the heritage in the town, which has 442 listed buildings, the project aims to attract new investment into Ramsgate and create apprenticeships, boost tourism and involve schools and the community in exhibitions and heritage-related skills training.
Ramsgate is one of just 10 areas chosen for the HAZ status.
Books, maps and archaeology
The new projects included a book on Ramsgate’s historic environment.
Historic England is working with Allan Brodie who has written books on Margate and other English seaside towns. The Ramsgate book will be published in 2019.
A second project will create a GIS-based map which documents the historic character of Ramsgate. This will be accompanied by a report which includes assessments of the heritage values of Ramsgate’s historic character and a narrative of the town’s historic development from prehistory right up to the present.
The third will involve experts analysing every available aerial photograph of the Ramsgate HAZ area to map and record archaeological remains. Drawing on existing work, the project will provide a brief archaeological narrative for the town, from prehistory to the present.
The fourth scheme will focus Ramsgate’s substantial prehistoric archaeological remains. Ramsgate and Pegwell Bay have been particularly important in various phases of the Neolithic Early Bronze Age and Late Bronze Age / Early Iron age. This project will bring together and promote these less well-known aspects of Ramsgate’s heritage.
The HAZ project is run by Historic England in partnership with Thanet District Council, Ramsgate Coastal Community Team, Ramsgate Town Council and The Ramsgate Society.