The Iron Age promontory fort at Black Head in St Austell Bay is one of a number of Scheduled Monuments across Cornwall that will benefit from Heritage Lottery funding to preserve these important sites.
The Monumental Improvement project, run by Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), has been awarded £489,700.
The 40 sites span over 4,000 years of Cornish history, featuring Iron Age hill forts, Neolithic settlements and medieval mottes.
Another central part of the project will be engaging Cornwall’s communities with their heritage. Activities will vary from volunteering opportunities such as scrub clearing to guided walks.
The hope is this will empower communities to take a more active role in caring for the monuments in the future.
Key aims include:
- training 200 community volunteers
- working with local primary schools and undergraduate students
- delivering over 250 community activities
- increasing physical and virtual access
- improving habitat at 26 sites to better support wildlife
The project is a great example of multiple partners working together. Alongside Cornwall AONB and the Heritage Fund, other project funders include:
- Cornwall Council
- Historic England
- National Trust
- Cornwall Heritage Trust
- Kilkhampton Parish Council
- Cornwall Archaeological Society (partnership support)
Welcoming the news was St Austell and Newquay’s Member of Parliament Steve Double, who said:
“The fort at Black Head is an important historical site for the St Austell area and it is good to see partners coming together with this funding to recognise its significance and work to preserve it for ours and future generations.”
“I look forward to seeing this work progressing to ensure sites like Black Head Fort remain protected in the future.”
Mevagissey and St Austell Bay Cornwall Councillor James Mustoe said:
“As a keen walker I am well aware of Black Head’s importance in our local history, in its prominent position off the South West Coast Path. I was pleased to meet with the AONB Unit last year to discuss and support their proposals for this site. I am delighted to see this funding awarded and look forward to working with all involved to make sure this monumental and special feature of our Cornish coastline continues to be there for all to explore and enjoy.”
Commenting, Emma Browning, Cornwall AONB Partnership Manager, said:
“The Monumental Improvement Project brings together landowners, organisations, volunteers and experts to not only protect 4,000 years of Cornish heritage but connect more people with the protected landscape, improving health and wellbeing."
