Historic environment and heritage management projects, resources, commentary and analysis by Professors Ian Baxter (Heriot-Watt University) & David Gill (Kent/UEA)
The EARC regional heritage report has heritage and cultural property crime as one of the themes. It includes an overview of the response to heritage crime in the four regional police forces in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.
There are six case studies:
1. Damage to churches
2. Illegal metal-detecting and disposal of finds
3. Architectural theft
4. Criminal damage and anti-social behaviour
5. Shipwreck interference
6. Cyber and new technologies
The section concludes with some suggestions for addressing heritage crime protection.
The project is grateful to Mark Harrison (Historic England) and Andy Bliss for their assistance with the report.
Gill, D. W. J., M. Kelleher, P. Matthews, T. M. Pepperell, H. Taylor, M. Harrison, C. Moore, and J. Winder. 2022. From the Wash to the White Cliffs: The Contribution of the Heritage Sector. Eastern Academic Research Consortium (EARC) <https://kar.kent.ac.uk/96160/>.
Our report on the contribution of the heritage sector to society and the economy in the south east and the east of England was published today.
Summary
This report reviews the contribution of heritage to the region defined by the counties of Kent, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. It identifies four key themes that link the heritage in the region: coastal defence; Christian heritage; historic houses; and historic landscapes and natural heritage. The region contains one UNESCO World Heritage Site at Canterbury. Heritage is supported by the development of several Heritage Action Zones and High Street Heritage Action Zones across the four counties.
Heritage features in the strategies for the two regional Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP), as well as countywide and local authority heritage and cultural strategies. The report identifies examples of good practice.
Several research themes have been identified that link to the interests of the three sponsoring universities of East Anglia, Essex, and Kent. Coastal heritage across the four counties is facing the threat of the climate crisis and assets are being lost due to coastal erosion. The impact of rising sea levels is also assessed. Heritage and cultural property crime affects the sustainability of heritage and cultural property across the region. Five case studies are presented: damage to churches, including lead roof theft; illegal metal-detecting and the disposal of finds; architectural theft; vandalism; and the use of technology to facilitate crime against heritage assets. The third research theme relates to the way that the DCI sector works with heritage organisation to record and interpret assets. The development of a county based Digital Heritage Strategy for Suffolk is highlighted.
The economic benefits of heritage are explored through the award of National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) grants to heritage projects. Between 2013 and 2020 the EARC region was awarded over £190 million for heritage projects by NLHF. In addition, the report explores visitor trends and identifies the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism economy for the region. Historic England estimates that the heritage sector accounted for 140,000 jobs in the south east, and eastern England in 2019.
The social benefits of heritage align with the UK Government’s Levelling-Up agenda. This is explored through a number of sub-themes: health and well-being; pride in place; digital connectivity; education and skills.
The report concludes with a reflection on the challenges facing heritage across the region. This includes encouraging public participation with museums and archives.
Gill, D. W. J., M. Kelleher, P. Matthews, T. M. Pepperell, H. Taylor, M. Harrison, C. Moore, and J. Winder. 2022. From the Wash to the White Cliffs: The Contribution of the Heritage Sector. Eastern Academic Research Consortium (EARC) <https://kar.kent.ac.uk/96160/>.
During December the small church at Mwnt in Ceredigion was vandalised not just once but twice (“Mwnt church vandalism prompts £20k fundraising appeal“, BBC News 3 January 2022). Windows and the entrance to the churchyard were damaged. These vulnerable structures need public protection.
A JustGiving page has been set up to help fund the restoration.
Historic England has noted that metal-detectorists have been active on part of the scheduled Roman site at Corbridge in Northumberland.
Do we need to change the language used to describe such activity? Do archaeologists need to start talking about the intellectual implications of such illegal activity? What information is being lost from the finite archaeological record?
Part of Hadrian’s Wall at Brunton Turret has been damaged by metal-detectorists “‘Nighthawk’ metal detectorists damage Hadrian’s Wall“, BBC News 20 June 2018). Some 50 holes have been noted around this well-preserved section of the Roman frontier. This raises questions about how internationally significant heritage assets can be protected for future generations. Equally important is the question, how can the archaeological and heritage communities make it clear that such activity cannot be accepted?
Some 450 delegates attended a conference at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds to hear about the results of the survey and excavations (2008-14) at the vicus regius of Rendlesham in Suffolk. One of the themes explored was the relationship between this apparent elite site on the Deben with the ship-burial site at Sutton Hoo. A further discussion was on the place of the former Saxon Shore fort at Walton Castle (near Felixstowe).
Papers were:
Sir Michael Bunbury, The landowner’s perspective
Faye Minter, How Rendlesham has been investigated
Jude Plouviez, Results: the Roman period
Christopher Scull, Results: the Anglo-Saxon period
Andrew Woods, Interpreting the early medieval coins
Charlotte Scull, Beasts and feasts: the animal resources
Kelly Kilpatrick, The place-names of a royal Anglo-Saxon landscape: a toponymic survey of Rendlesham and the Deben valley
Tom Williamson, Rendlesham in context: the changing geographies of early medieval England
Andrew Rogerson, Not always a backwater, the northern half of the East Anglian Kingdom in the 5th-9th centuries
Christopher Scull, Suffolk, East Anglia and the North Sea: the importance of Rendelsham in the 5th to 8th centuries AD
Martin Carver chaired the final session and emphasised the international significance of the discoveries. Christopher Scull outlined plans for publication (including an article in Antiquity) and future grant applications.
The conference was organised by Suffolk County Council with support from the Sutton Hoo Society, Council for British Archaeology East, and University of Suffolk.
The conference was sponsored by Suffolk Archaeology, Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB, Suffolk County Council, British Sugar and the National Trust.
Ministry signs helped to explain the layout of sties in state guardianship. Sadly the sign from the Lady Chapel on the east side of the north transept of the Abbey at Bury St Edmunds has been damaged. I presume it read: ‘Ch[apel]’. Does anybody have a picture of the original sign? It is a good reminder why we need to record these signs before they disappear or are removed.
The chapel was constructed in the late 13th century over the earlier chapel to St Mary. It is adjacent to the chapel of the St Martin, and alongside the crypt.
Image of Athenian amphora attributed to the Bucci painter seized in Greek police raid (2007). Source: Dr Christos Tsirogiannis.
Dr Christos Tsirogannis has identified an Attic amphora due to be auctioned in London next week as the one shown in two images seized during a Greek police raid in 2007. The auction house concerned needs to demonstrate the full collecting history.
Ministry of Works plaques stolen from Woodhenge. Source: Historic England
HF has a keen interest in heritage signs especially those linked to the Ministry of Works. It has been reported that the Ministry of Works signs from Woodhenge, an early example of interpretative plaques, have been stolen.
There have been a number of lead thefts across East Anglia and in particular from historic churches in Suffolk. St Peter and St Paul at Lavenham is one of the latest to have been stripped: there have been 12 instances in the county since July this year. The damage to Lavenham’s church has been put in the region of £150,000 (see news report). Earlier this month the church at Groton was the subject of a theft (see news report). Reports are highlighting the difference between the value of the lead and the cost of the repairs.
Source: Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich
The Church of England Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has issued new guidance to churches (see here).
Bishop Martin said: “We live in a low crime county but our community’s heritage has recently been prone to major thefts. A number of churches have had their lead roofs stolen and therefore the launch of these guidance notes is very timely. Working in partnership with the Church, the police forces in Suffolk and Norfolk have produced an easy to follow leaflet for Parochial Church Councils and I hope that they will be read and acted upon in order to keep our places of worship open and available to all.”
Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore added: “Our beautiful buildings need to be cherished and we must do whatever we can to combat heritage crime. The dedicated rural crime team is doing an excellent job. This team, supported by Suffolk’s two dedicated rural Special Constabulary units, has a very good understanding of the negative impact heritage crime has in rural areas. We all have a role to play to protect our county’s beautiful churches but so often they are in remote areas so I would urge everyone to keep their eyes peeled and report any suspicious activity.”
The Suffolk Constabulary has also issued a statement.
Heritage Futures 