Shifting sands: Kentish coastal heritage and communities in transition
Lead Research Organisation:
Canterbury Christ Church University
Department Name: Sch of Humanities & Educational Studies
Abstract
This project will evaluate the impact of archaeology, heritage and citizen science initiatives on individuals and local communities across the East Coast of Kent, with the aim of maximising benefit and sustainability of future projects. Spanning nearly a decade, a number of community initiatives have been/are being delivered across East Kent, partly in response to research trends and funding priorities directed towards advancing our understanding of the societal and economic benefits of archaeology and heritage (Reilly et al 2018; Darvill et al 2019). This region has a rich history and heritage but its coastal towns suffer some of the highest levels of deprivation in South-East England; urban and economic degeneration (and rapid regeneration) have had a profound influence on its communities. In this context, a coordinated, objective review into the impact of these various projects - at both an individual initiative and regional scale - urgently needs undertaking. In short, this research questions, what is the value of these projects to coastal communities in transition, and how can we ensure legacy?
MOLA's East Kent Coast Discovery Programme, Canterbury Christ Church University, and project partners TimescapeKent and Canterbury Archaeological Trust have completed, on-going, and planned community heritage/archaeology and citizen science initiatives that provide rich case studies for evaluation across diverse coastal settlements. Among others these include the contemporary Margate Graffiti and Ramsgate Hoverport initiatives, the Pegwell Bay and Dover Defences projects, The Forgotten Frontline in Whitstable and Herne Bay, and A Town Unearthed and Finding Eanswythe in Folkestone. The supervisory team will support the student in identifying the most appropriate study areas and initiatives to work with. Evaluation data from completed CITiZAN (2015-2018) and CCCU (2010-2019) projects are available as a basis, and they will develop alternative/complementary approaches to more effectively capture and evaluate potential longer-term impacts. There is considerable scope for the student to mould the direction of the project through active and ongoing engagement with our extensive and growing network of participants from wide-ranging backgrounds and age groups, partners including local community-based charities (e.g. The Gap and KRAN), and archaeology/heritage organisations and authorities across Kent.
This research aims to:
1) Evaluate the impact of the selected archaeology/heritage and citizen science initiatives on individuals, groups, and communities within these coastal settlements, and how it varies depending on the participants, stakeholders, type of initiative, and location.
2) Evaluate the wider and longer-term impacts through the development and application of an evaluation toolkit that is adaptable to localised contexts, and that will help inform strategies and best practice guidelines for maximising benefit, sustainability, and legacy of future projects in East Kent, and other coastal and inland urban settings.
This studentship provides a unique and timely opportunity to bring together a wealth of community project work and evaluation data, wide-ranging partners and collaborators, and complementary supervisor knowledge and expertise. It will: address MOLA's aim of deepening the impact of work with local communities and under-represented groups; contribute important new insights into the value of community heritage/archaeology and citizen science projects at both local and regional scales; and enhance the effectiveness of strategic planning, and public policy and investment, surrounding these initiatives in the future.
MOLA's East Kent Coast Discovery Programme, Canterbury Christ Church University, and project partners TimescapeKent and Canterbury Archaeological Trust have completed, on-going, and planned community heritage/archaeology and citizen science initiatives that provide rich case studies for evaluation across diverse coastal settlements. Among others these include the contemporary Margate Graffiti and Ramsgate Hoverport initiatives, the Pegwell Bay and Dover Defences projects, The Forgotten Frontline in Whitstable and Herne Bay, and A Town Unearthed and Finding Eanswythe in Folkestone. The supervisory team will support the student in identifying the most appropriate study areas and initiatives to work with. Evaluation data from completed CITiZAN (2015-2018) and CCCU (2010-2019) projects are available as a basis, and they will develop alternative/complementary approaches to more effectively capture and evaluate potential longer-term impacts. There is considerable scope for the student to mould the direction of the project through active and ongoing engagement with our extensive and growing network of participants from wide-ranging backgrounds and age groups, partners including local community-based charities (e.g. The Gap and KRAN), and archaeology/heritage organisations and authorities across Kent.
This research aims to:
1) Evaluate the impact of the selected archaeology/heritage and citizen science initiatives on individuals, groups, and communities within these coastal settlements, and how it varies depending on the participants, stakeholders, type of initiative, and location.
2) Evaluate the wider and longer-term impacts through the development and application of an evaluation toolkit that is adaptable to localised contexts, and that will help inform strategies and best practice guidelines for maximising benefit, sustainability, and legacy of future projects in East Kent, and other coastal and inland urban settings.
This studentship provides a unique and timely opportunity to bring together a wealth of community project work and evaluation data, wide-ranging partners and collaborators, and complementary supervisor knowledge and expertise. It will: address MOLA's aim of deepening the impact of work with local communities and under-represented groups; contribute important new insights into the value of community heritage/archaeology and citizen science projects at both local and regional scales; and enhance the effectiveness of strategic planning, and public policy and investment, surrounding these initiatives in the future.
