Historic Buildings

Raynham Ruins - A Centre of Excellence

We would like this project to establish St Margaret’s as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for the conservation, interpretation and management of ruined churches and their churchyards across Norfolk. This will allow others who care for such heritage, which is often overlooked and undervalued, to benefit from the positive impacts and outcomes that we deliver. These will focus on saving the ruin from collapse (which is a real and present risk), on nature gain and enhancing biodiversity in the churchyard and on interpreting the ruin within the wider built and natural heritage landscape. Project activities will focus on the theme of conservation, supporting all age learning, wellbeing and skills development. This will transform St Margaret’s into a centre of conservation excellence and act as an exemplar for the c.150 ruined churches within the county of Norfolk and across the Diocese of Norwich. Our outcomes will therefore include promoting good practice in environmental sustainability and delivering activities that develop awareness and improve conservation skills, engaging a wider range of people with both built and environmental heritage. Our project will also set a best practice example in partnership working as we will deliver it through informal partnerships with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT), the Norfolk Churches Trust (NCT), the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), our local schools and other learning providers (such as Inspired Classrooms) and the Raynham Estate amongst others. We therefore hope to achieve a positive outcome not just for the ruin of St Margaret’s and its churchyard and our community, but also for people and the surrounding heritage landscape and for the wider heritage infrastructure across Norfolk. Our digital Toolkit will provide a long lasting and positive project legacy, detailing its activities and outcomes and supporting others into the future.