One of the most important and impressive fortifications in Britain near Dover is to benefit from a £149,000 boost from Historic England.
Dover District Council is welcoming news that a new grant from Historic England is set to help conserve and regenerate Dover’s nationally significant Western Heights. One of the most important and impressive fortifications in Britain, the Western Heights are a series of forts linked by miles of ditches on the western hilltop above Dover.
Photo: DDC
Historic England has awarded a grant to DDC for a three-year project to support conservation and regeneration work at Dover’s Western Heights and improve how this amazing asset connects with the town and waterfront.
The capacity building grant will fund a project officer who will deliver a range of work including coordinating and increasing volunteering opportunities, building visitor numbers through promotion and events, and the creation of a ‘vision’ document for the Western Heights. They will work closely with the Western Heights Preservation Society to continue the positive progress made to date.
DDC’s Cabinet agreed this week to accept the grant funding. The grant of £149,000 and will be match-funded by DDC over the three year period.
The Western Heights is an extensive site of national importance, including a scheduled monument, two listed buildings, a conservation area, a local nature reserve with protected species, and a wildlife site with important chalk grassland.
The grant follows Dover’s Western Heights Masterplan which sets out a range of objectives, including to enhance the area as a destination of national and international significance, complementing Dover’s other heritage attractions.
The Regional Capacity Building Grant programme is for projects that promote the understanding, management and conservation of the historic environment.
Cllr Charlotte Zosseder, DDC Cabinet Member for Corporate Property, said:
“We are delighted to receive this grant from Historic England. We look forward to working with all our partners to continue to enhance and regenerate this important area, and to develop how this connects to the range of amazing attractions in the town.”
Alice Brockway, Development Advice Team Leader at Historic England, said:
“This grant will enable Dover District Council, their partners and local people to better understand, care for and enjoy the Western Heights – Dover’s second great fortress. This exciting project is the result of a shared vision to improve the area, provide better access, and celebrate this cherished place. We see this as an important step toward securing a long-term sustainable future for the fortress and making the most of Dover’s remarkable heritage.”
A Western Heights Preservation Society spokesperson said:
“This is such good news. The backing of Historic England and Dover District Council is so important to the work we are doing on the Heights. It will mean that we will be able to do so much more in partnership with them and with English Heritage.”