Cultural Regeneration through Heritage: Hastings, Heritage and Local History

In October 2014 during Hastings week over 70 people gathered to hear about various aspects of heritage, with a particular focus on local history and community involvement. Representatives from many local heritage groups were present and spent the afternoon listening to a packed and interesting programme of speakers including academics, students,  as well as from Hastings Borough Council, Hastings Pier Charity and Heritage Consultancy Services.

The keynote speakers for  the afternoon were Professor Fred Gray and Jason Wood. Fred from the University of Sussex started the afternoon with a talk entitled ‘Whose Heritage?’ which asked a range of questions from what is heritage and who defines this? to who or what is responsible for preserving and protecting heritage? Looking at the role played by organisations such as The National Trust, English Heritage and The Heritage Lottery Fund showed that whilst the buildings and grounds managed and maintained by these organisations offer an understanding of history from a certain perspective, there are many sections of the past that are hidden from view. (Fred Gray’s presentation)

Following on from Fred, was Jason Wood the Director of Heritage Consultancy Services who’s talk  ‘Democratizing Heritage’, The focus of Jason Wood’s keynote address was how to bring academics, local historians and heritage professionals together as a persuasive force for economic, social and cultural regeneration. He explored this theme through two ongoing case studies ‘Beyond the castle’ and ‘Breaking ground”. ‘Beyond the Castle’  is a project focusing on the area around Lancaster Castle. . The other case study ‘Breaking Ground’ looked at Bradford’s Park Avenue football ground, where in 2013 the first excavation of a football goalmouth and goalpost was conducted. This led to enthusiasm from a variety of people to see the old ground further investigated and utilised. Both case studies showed the benefits of reaching out to local people and engaging them in heritage projects in interesting and innovative ways, suggesting that similar initiatives would be of benefit if applied in Hastings heritage  projects.(Jason’s images as PowerPoint), (Jason Wood – Democratizing heritage keynote)

Hastings based Joint Honours Student, Kristin O’Donnell talked the audience through her essay entitled ‘Consuming Heritage: How Visual Culture Contributes to a Sense of Place’. Which explored “how consuming history as a leisure pursuit can inform identity” and how “As the consumption of history has become increasingly commodified through its association as a leisure activity questions of authenticity have become increasingly present in academic discourse”. Using The smugglers Adventure/St Clements Caves as a case study, Kristin looked at the Disneyfication of heritage sites.(Kristin’s PowerPoint)

Through their presentation ‘History, Performativity, Locality and Identities: Sussex Bonfire Nights’ Professor John Nauright and Dr Thomas Carter of the School of Sport and Service Management, talked to the audience about their research into the tradition of bonfire nights and societies in Sussex.

Beatrice Rapley,  Learning and Education Manager at Hastings Pier Charity , gave the audience an insight into the importance of the community in her ‘The People’s Pier: Heritage as a Catalyst for Regeneration’ presentation, . Beatrice talked about the history of the pier, about when the pier was almost completely destroyed by fire in 2010 and the subsequent restoration project and the community involvement with that project. (Hastings Pier presentation )

Other speakers were Dr Paul Gilchrist who talked about ‘Heritage Trails and Coastal Regeneration’ and Dr Nicola Smith who discussed  ‘Commemoration and World War I’.

The final presentation for the afternoon came from Kevin Boorman. ‘”1066 and All That”: How 1066 is Used to Market Heritage in Hastings’  looked at how an historic event can be used as a marketing tool. The Head of Communications and Marketing at Hastings Borough Council talked about how The Battle of Hastings can be used as a way of attracting overseas visitors to the town.