Heritage Lab Ramsgate

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Heritage Lab Ramsgate

Established to unlock the social and economic potential of the 450 listed historic buildings and community assets in Ramsgate.

20/08/2026

Vote for Margate’s Shell Grotto!

One of Kent’s most intriguing heritage treasures has made the shortlist for the Seaside Heritage Network's 2026 Bucket & Spade List – and we think it deserves your vote!

The Shell Grotto in Margate is a Grade I-listed underground wonder, discovered in 1835 and decorated with around 4.6 million shells. Its origins remain a mystery, with no surviving records explaining who created it, when or why.

We're proud to see such a unique piece of Thanet's heritage recognised alongside seaside heritage from across the UK.

Voting is open until 1 September – cast your vote and help put Shell Grotto at the top of the list!

Vote here: https://seasideheritage.org.uk/bucket-spade-list/vote-for-2026-winners/

10/08/2026

Could the Ramsgate Marina Bathing Pool have a future once again?

It's a question that's increasingly part of the national conversation around seaside regeneration.

We're pleased to see Heritage Lab Ramsgate's vision for bringing the Marina Bathing Pool back to life featured in Country Life magazine following the Valuing Seaside Heritage Symposium at Saltdean Lido, where our CEO, Rob Kenyon, spoke about the role historic seaside places can play in shaping thriving coastal communities.

The article concludes:

“Meanwhile, although the days of the default bucket-and-spade holiday are long gone, a growing social-media-driven appetite for outdoor swimming and increasingly hot summers are making trips to the coast ever more tempting—and momentum is building behind seaside heritage projects as a result. One such is Ramsgate’s Marina Bathing Pool in Kent, which was closed in 1975 to make way for an unloved car park. The Ramsgate Heritage Lab is in discussions with Thanet District Council and a developer to revive it, and believes bringing the lido back to life could set a new and more sustainable course for the town’s future. ‘It is our responsibility not only to value seaside heritage because it tells us where we’ve come from, but because it can tell us where we’re going,’ said Rob Kenyon, its CEO.”

We believe our historic places aren't just reminders of the past – they can be catalysts for the future. Projects like the Marina Bathing Pool have the potential to create jobs, attract visitors, improve wellbeing and give people even more reasons to be proud of Ramsgate.

Courtesy of Country Life magazine, July 22, 2026 (www.countrylife.co.uk). Valuing Seaside Heritage Symposium organised by the Seaside Heritage Network.

Historic image courtesy of Michael's Bookshop, Ramsgate (https://www.michaelsbookshop.com/).

03/08/2026

What if Charlotte Court became one of Ramsgate's favourite public spaces? ✨

Imagine a greener, more welcoming, family-friendly Charlotte Court with outdoor markets, performances, film nights, community events, places to sit with friends, beautiful planting and space for everyone to enjoy.

We've just submitted a proposal to Thanet District Council to take on Charlotte Court through a Community Asset Transfer.

So... what's that?

A Community Asset Transfer is an established national and Thanet District Council policy where public assets can be transferred to community organisations so they can invest in, improve and manage them for long-term community benefit. It's an approach that's already been used locally, including for the Ramsgate Ice House.

For Charlotte Court, community ownership is the key that could unlock significant external funding to transform the space outside the Old Wine Warehouse into a vibrant community courtyard at the heart of Ramsgate. As a Community Interest Company, Heritage Lab Ramsgate has an asset lock, meaning any transferred asset must always be used for community benefit and can't be sold for private gain.

This video and images show a possible vision of what Charlotte Court could become.

**Note: this proposal relates only to the courtyard outside Giant Coffee, Ramsgate Arts Club and Saltworks. It does not include the adjacent pétanque court.**

💭 We'd love to hear your ideas too.

What would make you want to spend more time here?

👇 Tell us in the comments.

(The video and images in this post are an AI impression to help start a conversation, they are not a final design.)

24/07/2026

Interesting site visits for our team in the past week!

Hayley, our Fundraising & Development Manager, got to look inside Ramsgate’s Clock House which is being beautifully restored by Thanet District Council, Wilmott Dixon, The Ramsgate Society and other partners. It’s a great example of our town maintaining important heritage buildings for future use.

https://www.thanet.gov.uk/info-pages/the-clockhouse-and-pier-yard/

Rob, our CEO, was at an The Architectural Heritage Fund Heritage Development Trust network event at Chatham Intra. One of their partners, Tiller & Wheel, is buying and restoring London sailing barges and then training young people to sail them.

https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/shipshape/projects/tiller-wheel-cic-kent

14/07/2026

We have a standard dedicated desk becoming available at Ramsgate Works (£179/month) from 1 August. Discounts are available by paying for 4 or 6 months upfront. If you’d like to see, you can book a tour via https://www.ramsgate.works/. Or get in touch to reserve!

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Ramsgate Works is a friendly coworking space in a quiet courtyard in the heart of Ramsgate.

A space for creatives, remote workers, digital nomads, entrepreneurs and anyone looking for an inspiring place to work. Both dedicated and flexible hotdesking spaces are available with a range of facilities and member benefits.

17/06/2026

Please share with your networks!

We are hiring for a part-time (c. 2 days per week) Project Manager as part of our Historic England funded programme.

We’re looking for someone organised, proactive and
delivery-focused to help turn ambitious plans into real projects.

More details available here: https://www.heritagelab.org.uk/join-our-team-project-manager-part-time/

16/06/2026

We are delighted to welcome three new team members to Heritage Lab Ramsgate as we continue to grow our work supporting heritage-led regeneration across the town, as part of our Historic England funded programme.

HAYLEY CONBOY – FUNDRAISING & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Hayley will lead our fundraising and development activity, helping us secure the resources and partnerships needed to deliver an ambitious and growing programme of heritage-led regeneration in Ramsgate.

Hayley is a senior fundraising professional with more than 15 years' experience securing investment and building strategic partnerships to deliver social impact for people and communities. This includes leadership roles at the CBI, King's College London and St Mungo's, the homelessness charity.

SARAH GORE – ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

Sarah will be delivering our “Connecting Ramsgate’s Heritage” programme, working collaboratively with local partners, organisations and stakeholders – including the Ramsgate Heritage Community Buildings Forum – to strengthen collaboration around heritage buildings and regeneration.

Sarah is an experienced heritage professional whose career spans roles at the People’s History Museum, Norfolk Museums and Norwich Historic Churches Trust.

NATALIE MAY – FINANCE MANAGER

Natalie will oversee Heritage Lab’s financial management and systems, supporting the organisation as we continue to expand our projects and activities.

Natalie has worked in a finance since 2009 in a variety of industries ranging from financial advisory services, hospitality, property management and exhibition construction.

18/05/2026

Heritage Lab Ramsgate’s Rob Kenyon will be speaking at the Valuing Seaside Heritage Symposium at Saltdean Lido on 26 June 2026. Jointly organised by Seaside Heritage Network, Historic Buildings & Places, and Heritage Network, the one-day event will bring
together heritage professionals, policymakers, practitioners, academics and coastal stakeholders to examine how seaside heritage contributes to regeneration, tourism, identity and long-term sustainability.

More details and tickets can be found here: https://hbap.org.uk/valuing-seaside-heritage-symposium/

29/04/2026

Fancy joining the Ramsgate Works crew?

We have two desks becoming available at Ramsgate Works, a standard desk (£174/month) from 1 May and a large desk (£219/month) from 1 June. Discounts are available by paying for 4 or 6 months upfront. If you’d like to see, you can book a tour via our website, https://www.ramsgate.works/. Or get in touch to reserve yours!

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Ramsgate Works is a friendly coworking space in a quiet courtyard in the heart of Ramsgate.

A space for creatives, remote workers, digital nomads, entrepreneurs and anyone looking for an inspiring place to work. Both dedicated and flexible hotdesking spaces are available with a range of facilities and member benefits.

Image by Tom Keenan Photography (tomkeenanphotography.co.uk)

28/04/2026

Please share with your networks! Note we’ve brought forward the application deadline to Thursday 30 April 2026 (11.59pm).

We are hiring for two new part-time (c. 2.5 days per week) roles as part of our Historic England funded programme.

A Fundraising Development Manager to lead the development and delivery of our fundraising and development approach – working with the CEO, Board and partners to secure the resources needed to deliver a growing programme of heritage-led regeneration.

And an Engagement Officer to deliver our “Connecting Ramsgate’s Heritage” programme, working collaboratively with local partners, organisations and stakeholders to strengthen how we work together around heritage buildings and regeneration.

More details here: https://www.heritagelab.org.uk/join-our-team-2-roles-available-fundraising-development-manager-and-engagement-officer/

Address

Ramsgate

Website

http://heritagelab.org.uk/

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