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Screen South gets £100k from National Lottery Heritage Fund to celebrate Kent's coast in WWI

Kent's coastal heritage from WWI is set to be brought to life... thanks to a £100,000 heritage lottery grant.

Media company Screen South, which manages Kent WWI, has gained cash to promote a project celebrating the people and places of Kent's coastal areas during the Great War.

The £99,900 Heritage Lottery Fund grant involves creating an interactive website creating “one click” access to the heritage of the coastal communities of Kent in WWI.

First World War trenches on the Hoo Peninsula taken from the air. Picture: Bryn George
First World War trenches on the Hoo Peninsula taken from the air. Picture: Bryn George

The site will include 15 micro-sites for locations around the coast.

Stories will be uploaded by contributors in each location, and people will be able to find out about the impact of WWI in their locality, plus events and activities.

School activities and community events will bring people together to share memorabilia in pop-up exhibitions or add to a flat map of their locality.

Kent's history from that time is particularly fascinating, as it involves all three services -army, navy and air force.

It saw a time of major upheaval, as it was the gateway to the Western Front, with the movement of people having a huge impact on the coastal towns and villages of coastal Kent.

First World War burials at Deal cemetery. Picture: Judith Gaunt
First World War burials at Deal cemetery. Picture: Judith Gaunt

The project will bring together fragmented information into one common area.

Jo Nolan, M.D. at Screen South, said: “Screen South is absolutely delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund grant will enable us to lead this important community heritage initiative for WW1.

"We look forward to working with people from the coastal community in Kent and other partners on this project.

"Kent is home to some great stories and hidden gems, which by working together we will be able to uncover and share with a much wider audience - bringing the past within touching distance.”

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