Project Name:
Nothe Fort

Applicant
Weymouth Civic Society

Grant Awarded:
Heritage Grant of £1,809,000

Project:
Weymouth Civic Society was established in 1944 and now has 263 members. Over the last 20 years the Society have undertaken a gradual series of repairs on Nothe Fort, which was virtually derelict when they took on its lease. Nothe Fort is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This has utilised a huge amount of voluntary effort and enable the Fort to be open to the public and provide the base for the Trust’s educational programme.

The large-scale work now being undertaken to complete the Fort’s restoration and to update the presentations to the public has taken the volunteers to a new stage of working closely with a professional team to secure these often complex works. The Society has a strong volunteer force of around 60 members. The volunteers have updated all their management and maintenance reports and have gained new professional skills in project management because of this project. This has given them increased confidence and enthusiasm knowing that their efforts over the past 20 years will now secure the Fort with a viable future. The project is due to be completed in March 2007.

Winner Because:
It combines heritage merit and community involvement, demonstrates commitment over a long period and secures the long term future of the building.