Landguard Fort Trust, consisting of ten members was registered as a Charity under the Chairmanship of Derek Harrington in February 1995. The Trust's objectives are to develop Landguard Fort as a Tourist and Educational facility for the public by renovation, improvements, collection and display of artefacts and good management. The Fort has been under the custodianship of English Heritage since 1972. Major renovation and restoration work, needed because of deterioration and vandalism, is started in 1997 Q4 with a schedule to hand the management of the Fort over to the Trust in 1998 Q2. Following some slippage this was eventually achieved in Q4.
A business plan drawn up by Trust members Bob Edwards and Chris Slemmings envisages the dissemination of information by the written word, guided tours, audio-visual presentations and the staging of special events in and around the Fort. These could include brass band concerts, staged battles, jousting, Darell Day celebrations, auctions, weddings, civic receptions, plays, pageants and exhibitions etc. Events such as these may be facilitated by covering the central parade ground. Working crafts could also be introduced.
Financing is clearly a hurdle. English Heritage has spent £550,000 on conservation work but their input beyond this is unclear. Suffolk Coastal, Felixstowe Town and Suffolk County councils are helping with grant aid and expertise. Felixstowe Port is providing an office, managerial advice and some finance. Admission, sales and special events generate further income.
The Trust is seeking volunteers who would be willing to become guides or fill a whole range of other tasks from cleaning to research to display construction and making costumes. See "The Landguard Volunteers.>
The Trust are also seeking artefacts to display at the Fort. These may be either donated or placed on loan. There is no limit to the variety of items which will be needed but examples would include: uniforms, period office furniture, WW2 telephones, lamps of all types, shell cases and shells, official manuals, photographs and maps. The list is endless and we will welcome any item however large or small.
For further details on the Trust please contact the Secretary, Dave Wood, 126 Hervey Street, Ipswich, Suffolk. IP4 2EU. Tel. 01473 218245.
For further information about this site please contact Chris Slemmings.
