A NATIONAL project to protect and rekindle love of Weston's history is now complete.

In 2017, Historic England funding helped to create digital guides, walks and a free digital mapping resource called Know Your Place, where volunteers can add local information to aid with research projects. 

The £800,000 funding also helped local history exhibitions to take place at Weston Museum, The Grand Pier and The Sovereign.

Weston was one of only 20 places in England to enjoy this programme. 

Three years of monthly heritage talks were hosted by the Weston-super-Mare Civic Society and a book on Weston was published in 2019 - Weston-super-Mare: the town and its seaside heritage which highlights its Victorian past. 

The work is separate from the High Street Heritage Action Zone where £1.1million was awarded to North Somerset Council to fuel economic and cultural recovery in historical high streets. It will continue until March 2024.

Regional director at Historic England, Rebecca Barrett, said: "It’s wonderful to see how, over the past five years, the Heritage Action Zone has brought Weston's history to life for people who visit and live in the town.

"The new research that’s been uncovered, and made accessible to everyone, has helped people to celebrate the town’s special character and history and has given its residents a sense of pride about the place.

"The programme has also played an important role in forming the town’s future development."

Guides were also created to celebrate the town’s most famed Victorian architect, Hans Fowler Price, who is praised for constructing its opulent stone character.

North Somerset Council's heritage champion, Cllr John Crockford-Hawley, added: “Love of heritage does not inhibit progress. Understanding the visual, emotional, social, and economic aspects of our architectural story should help create a better future.

“With commendable business and wider community engagement, the Great Weston Heritage Action Zone has highlighted the best of our past and delivered investment to ensure these well-known properties continue to be part of a sustainably cherished future.”

To access an online tour of Weston, visit A Heritage Tour of Weston-super-Mare - ArcGIS StoryMaps.

The Know Your Place map can be viewed at maps.bristol.gov.uk/kyp/?edition=nsom.