OUR HEROES

OUR HEROES

Team work

Katie Chown helps us celebrate the amazing community engagement and contribution made by affiliate volunteer group, Landguard Fort Trust.

The Landguard Fort Trust has been and was updated in Victorian times. It a partner of English Heritage for was manned through both World Wars more than twenty years and they and, in 1951, part of it was converted joined the Affiliate Volunteer Scheme into a ‘Cold War’ control room. The fort four years ago. This scheme was created was disarmed and closed in 1956. to help us support and recognise local partner organisations who care for The amazing contribution

English Heritage sites on our behalf. In the year to March 2020 the fort There are 22 organisations currently volunteers contributed an incredible signed up to the scheme. 13,314 volunteer hours, roughly the The fort is managed by Landguard equivalent of eight full-time employees. Fort Trust, a charity They provided visitor operations with one full-time What the – welcoming visitors, running the and one part-time member of staff, and volunteers tearoom and shop, guided tours and events, cleaning, managing an active volunteer achieve, and health and safety, marketing, force of about 65. The fort is usually open the time and fundraising, organising archives, book keeping and providing daily from April to commitment a financial overview. They also October, and has over 25,000 visitors annually they give, is reduce costs by carrying out routine maintenance that in more normal times. simply amazing otherwise would need to be done by contractors.

The site’s significance The fort defended the approach to Harwich Harbour, Suffolk, and it is the site of the last opposed seaborne invasion of England, when the Royal Marines, in their first land battle, repulsed a Dutch attack in 1667. The current fort dates from the 18th century Community engagement English Heritage is committed to placing our sites at the heart of local communities. Access to this fascinating site wouldn’t be possible without the large volunteer effort. The fort’s general manager, Nicola Barker, is bowled over by

PLAN YOUR VISIT Landguard Fort is open to the public from April to October. For more information visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/landguard-fort the community’s commitment to opening the fort and the pride the volunteers take in their role. She says, ‘What the volunteers achieve, and the time and commitment they give is simply amazing. Without them Landguard Fort wouldn’t function.’

And the volunteers enjoy it too: ‘I feel that we’re a part of the history of the fort by looking after it, keeping important history alive for future generations. Plus I love working with wonderful people having a great laugh. It’s just an amazing place to be.’ ■

Main image The volunteer team at Landguard Fort Right An aerial view of the fort

We would like to thank the team for all that they do.