Echoes of Elmley

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Echoes of Elmley Exploring the lost village of Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey. Coastal heritage, memory, and regeneration. Research by a PhD candidate at the University of Kent.

A date for the diary for fellow photographers, nature lovers, and anyone with an appreciation for the landscapes and wil...
14/09/2026

A date for the diary for fellow photographers, nature lovers, and anyone with an appreciation for the landscapes and wildlife of Kent.

On Sunday 20th September, photographer Robert Canis will be giving an illustrated talk, Elmley: The Making of the Book, at The Avenue Theatre in Sittingbourne.

Robert has spent more than 30 years photographing Elmley National Nature Reserve, and the afternoon will explore that body of work and his new book, Elmley: First Light to Last, including the stories behind some of his favourite images, his photographic process and techniques, and the collaborative process of turning decades of work into a beautifully produced book.

I’ll be attending myself and am very much looking forward to hearing Robert speak about a place that has clearly become far more than simply a photographic location to him.

Even better, the event is also a fundraiser supporting the Elmley Nature Reserve Community Interest Company, helping to maintain public access to the reserve and support its nature projects.

WHEN? Sunday 20th September, 2–4pm
WHERE? The Avenue Theatre, Sittingbourne
TICKETS? £5

There are still some seats available, so if photography, wildlife, conservation or simply spending an afternoon hearing the story behind a remarkable long-term photographic project appeals to you, do consider coming along.

Tickets can be booked directly via PayPal:
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/772TDMFSJM4QY
More about Robert, the Elmley project and the book:
https://www.robertcanis.com/

Perhaps I’ll see a few familiar faces there!

photo credit: Robert Canis of course

...an active site of memory and identity✨
06/07/2026

...an active site of memory and identity✨

A huge thank you to everyone who visited my Built Heritage Workshop stand during Queenborough Independence Day. It was a...
01/07/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who visited my Built Heritage Workshop stand during Queenborough Independence Day. It was a truly special day, filled with wonderful conversations and the opportunity to meet so many inspiring people from across the Isle of Sheppey.

Hearing your stories, memories, and personal experiences connected to Sheppey's built heritage was incredibly valuable and deeply moving. Thank you for sharing these insights so generously. Moments like these remind me that heritage is not only about buildings and places, but also about the people, memories, and communities that give them meaning.

This was my first event of this kind, and I can confidently say that it will not be the last. The warmth, enthusiasm, and support I received have already given me a real sense of belonging, and I am very grateful for that.

I hope many of you will continue to follow and contribute to this journey as we explore the rich heritage of Sheppey together, while also opening up new conversations and possibilities for community regeneration and the future of these special places.

A special thank you to the Guildhall Museum in Queenborough, and personally to Caroline, for helping me find a venue and for all your support along the way. Thank you also to Ashley from Holy Trinity Church for providing a venue and offering such generous support. To Betty, thank you for spending hours with me and sharing some of the most fascinating stories and memories of the island.

And last, but certainly not least, my heartfelt thanks to Chris and Jeff Reed for being there for me throughout the entire weekend: helping with the setup, introducing me to so many wonderful people, and supporting me every step of the way. Your kindness and generosity mean more than I can say.

Thank you all once again for making this experience so memorable. I look forward to seeing you at future events and continuing this exciting journey of discovering and celebrating the heritage of Sheppey together.

Thank you to everyone who joined me for my talk on Elmley and the wider Isle of Sheppey. It was a real pleasure to share...
01/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined me for my talk on Elmley and the wider Isle of Sheppey. It was a real pleasure to share some of the stories, discoveries, and behind-the-scenes insights from my project, and I hope these small "teasers" made the evening a special experience for you all.

It was such a wonderful evening, and I was especially grateful for the opportunity to speak with so many of you in person afterwards. A very special thank you to the Gransden family, who quite literally filled the room!

Thank you all for your interest, openness, warm welcome, and willingness to support this project. It truly means a lot. As I mentioned during the talk, this project can only really come alive through the people of Sheppey, and I am incredibly grateful to have you alongside me on this journey.

For those who were unable to attend, please don't worry, there will be many more opportunities to join similar events in the future, and I will keep you updated.

Finally, my sincere thanks to The Criterion for providing such a fantastic venue and for including me in this wonderful month-long festival celebrating the heritage and culture of this remarkable island.

*** Please note that we have a new venue for this event, just a few steps away from the Guildhall Museum. Join me at the...
06/06/2026

*** Please note that we have a new venue for this event, just a few steps away from the Guildhall Museum. Join me at the High Street Cenotaph, beside Holy Trinity Church, for an afternoon of exploring Sheppey's built heritage together. I am very much looking forward to it and hope to see you there! ***

You're warmly invited to a fun and engaging workshop exploring the Isle of Sheppey's rich architectural history, led by Judit Heli, architect and doctoral researcher at the University of Kent.
This relaxed, hands-on event is open to everyone. Whether you're a long-time resident, new to the area, or simply curious, come along to share stories, learn something new, and explore what makes Sheppey's built heritage unique.

Your ideas, memories, and perspectives will help bring the island's heritage to life.

Saturday 20 June, 12:00–5:00 pm
Queenborough, Holy Trinity Chruch, High Street Cenotaph

Join us for a presentation and open discussion introducing my work on Elmley and the wider Isle of Sheppey.Your ideas an...
06/06/2026

Join us for a presentation and open discussion introducing my work on Elmley and the wider Isle of Sheppey.
Your ideas and feedback can help shape and bring the project to life.

Friday 19 June, 7:00 pm
Criterion, Blue Town Heritage Centre

Spring at ElmleyThese images were taken on site, where the remains of the former school building still stand quietly in ...
03/05/2026

Spring at Elmley

These images were taken on site, where the remains of the former school building still stand quietly in the landscape.

In spring, the land begins to speak again. Not loudly, but through small returns: wildflowers, colour, movement, growth. Against this renewal, the silhouette of the school ruin remains as a quiet outline of what once held daily life, learning, and community.

I’m interested in this layering of presence and absence: how the past does not disappear entirely, but continues to exist alongside what is still becoming. At Elmley, these echoes are not only found in archives or memories, but also in the rhythm of the landscape itself.

Here, nature does not erase the past. It grows through it.

Echoes of Elmley.

Help piece together ElmleyAs part of this research, I’m beginning an attempt to better understand - and partially recons...
27/04/2026

Help piece together Elmley

As part of this research, I’m beginning an attempt to better understand - and partially reconstruct - what Elmley village once looked like.

For this, I’m looking for any archival material, including:
– old photographs
– drawings or maps
– written descriptions
– personal documents or records

Even small fragments can make a difference. A single image, a detail in a story, or a remembered layout can help rebuild a clearer picture of the village.

This is not about recreating Elmley as it was, but about understanding it, so that its legacy can inform future thinking about place, heritage, and community on the Isle of Sheppey.

If you have anything you’d be willing to share, please get in touch.

Thank you for helping keep Elmley visible.

Do you remember Elmley?I’m looking to gather stories, memories, and connections to the lost village of Elmley, and I wo...
27/04/2026

Do you remember Elmley?

I’m looking to gather stories, memories, and connections to the lost village of Elmley, and I would love to hear from you.

This could be:
– family stories or recollections
– photographs or documents
– things you’ve heard from others
– or simply what Elmley means to you

You’re very welcome to share in the comments, send a message, or get in touch if you’d prefer to talk in person.

This project is not just about buildings, it’s about people, memory, and the identity of a place.

If this resonates with you, it would mean a lot if you could also help spread the word. The more voices we gather, the richer this shared story becomes.

Let’s rebuild the memory of Elmley together.

Echoes of ElmleyHello and welcome! I’m Judit, an architectural researcher exploring the story of Elmley, a once-thrivin...
27/04/2026

Echoes of Elmley

Hello and welcome! I’m Judit, an architectural researcher exploring the story of Elmley, a once-thriving village on the Isle of Sheppey that has now almost disappeared.

This space is part of my research, but it’s also something more: a place to remember, to share, and to reconnect.

Why “Echoes of Elmley”?

Because Elmley is not entirely gone. Its presence still lingers: in the landscape, in fragments of buildings, in photographs, and in memories passed down. These are the echoes: traces of lives, work, and community that continue to resonate today.

Through this project, I’m interested in how these echoes can help us understand not only the past, but also how heritage might support future regeneration and community identity. Connecting past, present and future, just like echoes.

If you have any connection to Elmley - through family, stories, or simply curiosity - you are very welcome here.

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Queenborough

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