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CELEBRATING 12 HERITAGE HARBOURS - IPSWICH AND BIDEFORD ADDED TO UK LIST
Today Ipswich and Bideford gain the status of Heritage Harbours, joining 10 other locations in a new initiative in which community-led organisations come together to save surviving features of some of the UK's most historic harbours. The aim is to maintain a viable "home base" for the UK's operational heritage boats and ships, safeguarding key features such as working quaysides, historic warehouses and stores, slipways and promoting local skills and enterprise to sustain a lively harbourside for wider community benefit. The project is supported by National Historic Ships UK, Historic England and Maritime Heritage Trust.
IPSWICH (Suffolk) harbour has a history dating back to Anglo Saxon times, was a Head Port of the Hanseatic League and is now England's lead port for agricultural exports. The Wet Dock was the largest of its kind in the country when constructed in 1842, complemented in 1845 by its fine classical Customs House, today with the sailing barge Victor berthed alongside. The Heritage Harbour project, led by Ipswich Maritime Trust with local partners, aims to develop the Inner Harbour area, to attract more vessels, provide engaging heritage displays, use the Trust's unique photographic archive of 2000 plus historic images, create a youth maritime experience and skills programme, and a programme of public events. Find out more: www.ipswichmaritimetrust.org.uk
Ben Good, Chair of Ipswich Maritime Trust, said: "Ipswich Maritime Trust was set up to celebrate Ipswich's amazingly long and important maritime history, so we are naturally delighted to join the Heritage Harbour network to work with and learn from its other members, as we all strive to preserve the nation's maritime heritage."
BIDEFORD (Devon) has played a leading role in maritime history as a centre of shipbuilding, trade, exploration and emigration. Working and heritage vessels are moored at the quays including the restored steamship Freshspring and the MS Oldenburg, the passenger ferry to Lundy. The aim of the Bideford and River Torridge Heritage Harbour is to create a partnership of local groups from Appledore to Bideford and on to Torrington linking projects on both sides of the River Torridge, surveying heritage, providing better access and encouraging more heritage vessels to use the port. Find out more: www.thewharves.org
Mike Teare, Chair of Bideford-based charity The Way of the Wharves, said: “This decision is of huge significance for our area, not only for highlighting our magnificent maritime heritage, but for developing Bideford and Torridge as an attractive place to live, work, and visit. Heritage Harbour status is good news for anyone who cares about our past and wants to see us thrive in the future.”
National Historic Ships UK Director Hannah Cunliffe said: “I am delighted to see the further expansion of the Heritage Harbour community with the addition of these two locations, both of which have a depth of history and long-standing maritime associations that fully warrant their inclusion in this scheme. The survival of Britain's historic vessels depends on harbours and ports such as these which provide vital infrastructure to service and maintain ships and boats into the future. NHS-UK supports the development of Heritage Harbours in line with its Shipshape Network initiative which promotes the regeneration of traditional maritime skills and connects projects across the UK.”
The first ten Heritage Harbours and Heritage Inland Ports were announced in summer 2023. The complete list is: Bideford, Bristol, Buckler’s Hard, Chester, Exeter, Faversham and Oare Creeks, Ipswich, Maldon and Heybridge, Sandwich, Shardlow, Stourport, and Wells next the Sea.
More information on all 12 Heritage Harbours: https://maritimeheritage.org.uk/heritage-harbours/about-heritage-harbours
The UK Heritage Harbour National Group (individual ports and national partners) manages the scheme and has adopted criteria. Further applications for the scheme, which is not a legal designation, are welcome – contact info@maritimeheritage.org.uk for more information.
