Saturday 21st September saw Hurst Castle celebrate a World Monuments Watch Day with a full day of exciting events. Organised at Hurst Castle by the Coastal Connections initiative – a joint venture between English Heritage and World Monuments Fund (WMF).
The Watch Day is one of many public events held at heritage sites worldwide to highlight the importance of vibrant community engagement and local stewardship in the sustainable preservation of heritage sites. The Tudor fortress, which was named on the 2022 World Monuments Watch, celebrated the occasion through a variety of activities from displays, re-enactments, and informative talks to musket-firing demonstrations. Entry to the Watch Day event at Hurst Castle was free for visitors.
Alex Kent, World Monuments Fund Britain Coastal Connections Lead, said: “World Monuments Fund is thrilled to be joining Hurst Castle’s Watch Day festivities. Hurst was nominated to our Watch programme to call attention to how coastal heritage sites are being impacted by climate change. We’re looking forward to marking Watch Day with a host of activities showcasing what makes Hurst Castle so unique and celebrating local communities.”
The day was a great success with many local families attending. Thanks go to the Fort Cumberland Guard who held two 19th-century displays including musket-firing demonstrations, The Friends of Hurst Castle, The Association of Lighthouse Keepers and Milford on Sea Historical Record Society. Thanks also go to Bird Aware Solent, New Forest National Park Authority, Environment Agency, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trust and Wings Wildlife Heritage.
Elsewhere at Hurst, the castle’s interpretation has received a complete re-fresh with new, informative panels around the site which tell the story of the castle’s history – from its Tudor beginnings to its 19th and 20th century strengthening – as well as covering the castle’s challenging geography.
The castle is currently open 10am-5.30pm, 7-days-a-week until the Sunday 3rd November 2024.
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