Case Study - Rhondda Cynon Taf Heritage Plaque Trail

Programme: Your Heritage
Applicant: Rhondda Cynon Taf
Grant awarded: £49,200
Project length: 2 years

Rhondda Cynon Taf Heritage Trail - printable (MS Word, 1.10MB)

Summary

Situated to the north of Cardiff, at the heart of South Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf encompasses the three distinct areas of the Rhondda Valley, the Cynon Valley and Taff Ely.

To celebrate its rich heritage a Blue Plaque Heritage Trail commemorating people, places and events of note has been installed. Nominations for the Trail were sought from communities throughout the county borough and the response was overwhelming. After lengthy consultation 30 Blue Plaques were shortlisted and these now signpost residents and visitors to the wealth of heritage on offer in the area. Visitors can follow the trail on foot or by car and find further information on the heritage sites using the leaflets and information boards available.

The high level of community involvement in this project has meant that many people who would not otherwise have engaged in this way with their heritage have had the opportunity to do so.

The aims of the project

The three year project had 3 main aims:

To identify and recognise notable people, places and events in the area.
To create heritage trails for community, education and tourism use.
To seek to engage the local community with its heritage.

Benefits for heritage

Rhondda Cynon Taf has a wealth of heritage including many historical buildings and events such as colliery strikes, riots and even a pioneering cremation which led to its legalisation in Great Britain. It is the birthplace of a vast array of celebrities from the worlds of music, sport, cinema, literature and the political arena.
An audit of all existing memorials, statues and plaques in Rhondda Cynon Taf was undertaken to establish what already existed. The additional 30 plaques cover the wide ranging wealth of local heritage and link them all together.
Plaque nominations were requested from the local community and over 180 were received. To cope with the level of demand local historical societies formed selection committees to prioritise the 180 down to the final 30 plaques.

Benefits for people

Several unveiling events were hosted at the individual plaque sites, which raised the profile of local heritage and generated local community pride as well as significant media interest and coverage. These launch events and a series of lectures and walks were attended by over 1,000 people.
Information boards were placed at strategic locations in town centres and both driving and walking trails were produced.
3 inter-linked 10 week accredited local history courses ran at Cynon Valley Museum by the Lifelong Learning department of Cardiff University.
9 volunteers were involved in researching the Trail.
Information materials such as bi-lingual leaflets were distributed to 20,000 visitors and local people throughout the Borough.
Once the project ends, future additions to the Trail, associated marketing and regular scheduled heritage walks will be become part of the RCT Heritage Officer's remit.
A bespoke website providing information about all the heritage trails and the Blue Plaque sites has been produced.

Lessons learnt

Because of their lack of experience in undertaking such a scheme initial timescales were significantly optimistic. Before a plaque can be erected, the owners of the building in question have to give their consent. Where listed buildings are involved, Listed Building Consent also needs to be sought from the relevant local authority. The whole process can take between 2 and 6 years from the initial suggestion to the erection of a plaque. Had they known what they know now they would have given themselves a 3 year timeframe for the installation of the Blue Plaques.
Initially they underestimated the desire locally to celebrate the unveiling of each plaque and the opportunity that provided for community pride in their heritage, involvement and education.

Long term benefits

The scheme generated a huge amount of interest and the profile of the heritage in the area (both sites and people) has been raised not only locally but nationally as well.
The placing of the Blue Plaques will give residents and visitors a clear understanding of the sheer wealth of culture and heritage on offer in the county borough. Individuals will be able to follow a heritage trail through Rhondda Cynon Taf, following sites that many local and wider communities are unaware of.
Further information on the Blue Plaque locations can be found on the Heritage Trails website.

The budget

Main Project Costs	£	Funding	£
Materials	13,530	Non-cash contributions	17,384
Fees Freelance	4,200	HLF grant (74%)	49,200
Training	2,000	Total costs	67,340
Design/writing/printing education material	26,408

People following the heritage trail

Sector

Cultures and Memories

Activity

Participation