“Wonderful news that this deserving and local (Kent) project has received major support from NLHF. Glevum are delighted to have played our part in developing the project. The outcomes will bring a major boost to the Isle of Sheppey.”
The Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust (SDPT) is delighted to announce the success of its £4.75m Heritage Lottery Fund (NLHF) bid for the rescue, repair and transformation of one of England’s great forgotten monuments, the Grade II* listed former Dockyard Church, Sheerness, on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent.
The Trust was awarded a Round 2 delivery grant award of £4.2M in December 2018 which will enable the team to deliver the completed project. Glevum has been working with the design team and the SDPT trustees to progress the project to the stage where we are now tendering for our main building contractors.
This pioneering project will transform Dockyard Church, providing a number of uses, including a new ‘enterprise centre’ and a permanent display space for one of the great wonders of British naval history, the vast Model of Sheerness Dockyard, created in the early 19th century and measuring 40ft square when fully assembled.
The NLHF Enterprise Grant funding will enable the Trust to:
• Repair, conserve and reinstate the structure and envelope of the building so preserving this magnificent building for future generations
• Create a new Business Incubation Centre which will bring together, in one place, all of the strands of support for young people to help them develop and sustain their businesses: from school leavers’ support and training, to premises, business mentoring and career development initiatives.
• Conserve and return to Sheerness the great Dockyard Model with a rolling display of parts of this unique model in the main body of the building.
• Provide a community café and event space venue for local and regional hire.
Quote from William Palin, Chair of the SDPT:
‘The award of this major National Lottery grant represents a great moment both for Dockyard Church and for the Isle of Sheppey and a huge vote of confidence in our project. This is a building which just a few years ago appeared to be on the brink of collapse, with no future and no hope, standing as a melancholy reminder of the changing fortunes of this once proud naval Dockyard and community. Now it will become the focus of major investment to restore its dignity and give it a new future at the heart of the life in the region. At the end of the project, its monumental Classical portico will once again give entry to a building bustling with life, where people will come for work and leisure, with the great Dockyard Model drawing visitors from around the country.
Dockyard church has stood at the heart of the local community for generations. This strong affection and sense of association has generated widespread local interest and support for our project, as shown by the success of our public engagement and outreach projects including open days, schools events and the on-going Reminiscence Project.’
We are grateful to everyone who has supported us, in particular National Lottery players, without whom this grant would not be possible, and all our partnership funders.
This campaign started back in 2012 with the compulsory purchase of the Church by Swale Borough Council, and we would also like to acknowledge the crucial support at this early stage from the World Monuments Fund Britain and SAVE Britain’s Heritage. We look forward to the next chapter in this great adventure.’
