Sussex Heritage Trust

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Sussex Heritage Trust is a charity established to preserve, improve and encourage the appreciation of the architectural and natural landscape of Sussex.

The Sussex Heritage Trust runs an annual awards, which are designed to recognise and reward high quality conservation, restoration and good design of newly built projects and encourage the use of traditional skills and crafts. There are eight categories of Awards : The Large Scale Residential Award, Small Scale Residential Award, Commercial Award, Landscape & Gardens Award, Ecclesiastical Building Award, Building Crafts Award, Public & Community Award and The Sussex Heritage Person of the Year Award. Each winner receives a hand crafted plaque to be attached to the building. The Awards will be presented by The Rt Hon Lord Egremont DL at Pangdean Old Barn, London Road, Pyecombe on Thursday 9th July.

28/10/2026

As part of our Sussex Heritage Skills Programme, we were delighted to welcome 41 students from Chichester, Brighton, Crawley, Northbrook and East Sussex to a fantastic taster day at the Weald & Downland Living Museum delivered in partnership with their brilliant team.

From flintwork and timberwork to plasterwork and brickwork, students learned from skilled craftspeople and discovered the techniques that have shaped our historic buildings for centuries.

We were also delighted to welcome DBR Limited who spoke to students about career opportunities in heritage construction and the training pathways available to help them develop their skills and take their first steps into the industry.

These taster days are the beginning of a journey to a much longer programme, opening doors for young people to explore traditional crafts and discover where a career in heritage construction could take them.
From here, students can progress to more in-depth training, work experience and on-the-job learning, building the skills and confidence they need to pursue careers in the sector.

By inspiring, training and supporting the next generation, we can help tackle the heritage skills gap and ensure the traditional crafts that keep our historic buildings alive are passed on for years to come.

A huge thank you to the Weald & Downland Living Museum, DBR, the talented craftspeople and everyone who helped make the day such a success!

Inspire. Train. Employ.

08/10/2026

Come and discover an award-winning Sussex heritage project!

We’re delighted to invite Sussex Heritage Trust supporters to join us for a special visit to The Bradbury Den at Chailey Heritage Foundation

Winner of both the Public & Community Award and Eco Award at this year’s Sussex Heritage Trust Awards.

📅 Wednesday 28 October
⏰ 11.00am–12.30pm

Come and see this inspiring sustainable building first-hand and discover the traditional skills and innovative approaches behind it, including straw bale walls and strock bricks, the use of local materials, low-carbon energy and biodiversity improvements.

You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the beautiful Sightsavers sensory garden, which featured at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, and hear how the Den is being used by children and young people, schools and community groups.

A great opportunity to meet the team, explore an exceptional project and see why it impressed our Awards judges.

🎟️ Places are limited – book your place today:

Link in bio

TraditionalSkills Architecture Conservation Sussex Chailey Heritage Foundation

04/09/2026

What happens when you give young people the chance to get hands-on with heritage?

At our Heritage Skills Taster Days, young people step away from the classroom and into the world of traditional heritage construction; trying their hand at specialist skills, working with experienced craftspeople and discovering just how much knowledge, patience and skill goes into caring for our historic buildings and places.

From stone masonry and timber work to traditional building techniques, the day is about getting stuck in, asking questions and, perhaps most importantly, discovering careers they may never have considered before.

As the Sussex Heritage Trust, we want to help make those opportunities possible.

A huge thank you to and training facility for hosting our Taster Days and helping us give young people this invaluable opportunity to experience heritage skills first-hand.

And who knows? For some of these young people, this could be where a future career begins.

01/09/2026

The future of Sussex’s heritage starts with the next generation.

Who will care for our historic buildings and places in 20, 30 or 50 years’ time?

Our Sussex Heritage Skills Programme, headed by our Education Officer Sarah Nute, is helping to answer that question by introducing young people to the traditional skills that make our heritage possible and creating pathways for them to turn those skills into careers.

From hands-on Taster Days and specialist training with master craftspeople, to work placements, apprenticeships and employment opportunities, the programme is about more than learning a craft. It’s about passing knowledge on, building confidence and creating a future for heritage in Sussex.

With more than 80% of industry respondents reporting a decline in the availability of specialist heritage craftspeople, the need has never been greater.

Swipe through to find out more about the Sussex Heritage Skills Programme and the journey from first experience to future career.

28/08/2026

Person of the Year 2026 | Simon Watkin

And so, we come to the final recognition in our Sussex Heritage Trust Awards 2026 series.

It feels particularly fitting to finish by celebrating a craftsman who has dedicated his life to protecting and enhancing Sussex’s built heritage.

At 70, Simon Watkin has spent decades perfecting the rare art of traditional flint walling. Entirely self-taught, Simon developed his craft through years of research, hands-on experience and an unwavering commitment to doing things properly.

His journey began in an unexpected way. After studying Fine Art and running his own art studio in Brighton, Simon’s early building work grew from repairing garden walls across the Ouse Valley. Fascinated by traditional building methods, he taught himself the techniques of flint walling, even spending countless hours gathering and hand-selecting flint from local fields and researching the use of traditional lime mortars.

His exceptional workmanship eventually brought him to the attention of the late Lord Hampden, and Simon went on to become a trusted craftsperson for the Glynde Estate , where he has worked for much of his career. His work can be seen across the estate and beyond, quietly preserving the character and authenticity of Sussex’s historic buildings and landscapes.

What makes Simon so deserving of this award is not only his remarkable skill, but his patience, knowledge, attention to detail and deep respect for traditional materials. His career is a powerful reminder that heritage survives because there are people willing to learn these skills, practise them and pass on their value.

Simon Watkin is the very definition of a heritage craftsman, and a deeply deserving recipient of the 2026 Sussex Heritage Trust Person of the Year Award.

Congratulations, Simon. And thank you for a lifetime dedicated to Sussex’s heritage. 👏

28/08/2026

The South Downs | Highly Commended

**Bulls Barn** is a beautiful example of how architecture, sustainability and landscape can work together.

Inspired by traditional Sussex farmsteads, this family home has been thoughtfully designed around its rural setting, achieving an impressive EPC A rating through passive solar design, a ground source heat pump, renewable energy generation, high levels of insulation and integrated rainwater harvesting.

The judges were particularly impressed by how sustainability was considered from the very beginning, creating a home that is not only beautiful and comfortable, but supports biodiversity and climate resilience too.

A fantastic example of low-carbon living rooted in its Sussex landscape.

Congratulations to everyone involved! 👏

27/08/2026

Eco Award | Highly Commended

What does it look like when sustainability is placed at the heart of design, without compromising beauty, comfort or quality?

This year, two exceptional projects were recognised as Highly Commended in our Eco Award.

Clay Rise — a beautifully crafted family home where sustainability has been seamlessly integrated into the design. Combining passive solar design, highly efficient construction, prefabricated timber, locally sourced natural materials and renewable energy technology, the project achieves exceptionally low embodied and operational carbon while sitting naturally within its rural setting.

Victoria Road — a project driven by exceptional commitment, perseverance and a clear vision for what sustainable housing can achieve. The development achieved Passivhaus certification, reducing space heating demand by an impressive 76% and demonstrating that the highest environmental standards can be achieved without compromising comfort, durability or design.

Both projects show that sustainable architecture is not simply about technology, it is about thoughtful design, careful choices and a commitment to creating better buildings for the future.

Congratulations to everyone involved in these inspiring projects! 👏

26/08/2026

Building Craft | Highly Commended

Two highly commended craftsmen, recognised for the skill, creativity and attention to detail they brought to their projects.

Harry Godman-Dorington | Woodcote Farmhouse

Harry undertook much of the carpentry at Woodcote Farmhouse, using recycled oak and timber from adjoining farm buildings, as well as timber grown and milled on the farm itself. The judges were particularly impressed by the innovative arched door and front porch, both contemporary pieces of work that were exceptionally crafted, with impressive attention to detail.

Jarrod Berry | Harting Down

Jarrod was responsible for the exceptional craftsmanship of both the existing and considerable new clunch stonework at Harting Down, using clunch sourced directly from the site. The judges praised the quality of the ex*****on and the care taken in the detailing throughout.

Both Harry and Jarrod demonstrate the importance of skilled hands, thoughtful materials and attention to detail in creating work that complements and enhances our historic buildings.

Congratulations to both craftsmen on their well-deserved Highly Commended recognition! 👏

25/08/2026

Highly Commended | Commercial

Balcombe Pit Barn is a wonderful example of how thoughtful conservation and new design can breathe life into an existing historic building.

Once derelict, the barn has been transformed through the introduction of bespoke oak framing and a carefully designed extension that integrates beautifully with the original building. The result is a characterful and well-considered space that sits naturally within its landscape.

The project also brings new opportunities for local businesses, demonstrating how the sensitive reuse of historic buildings can support both the heritage and future of our communities.

A fantastic transformation and a well-deserved Highly Commended. 👏
MJB Architecture

Address

Chichester
PO199RT

Telephone

01243 576 524

Website

http://www.sussexheritagetrust.org.uk/

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