Defending the Past

Defending the Past is a year-long project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Defence Estates, that is working in and around the military training area of Cape Wrath in North-West Scotland, to encourage access, enjoyment and understanding of the built heritage by the local community and the thousands of NATO troops who visit the training area each year to undertake military exercises.

The project is working with young people within the primary and secondary schools that border the training area, as well as with the very active adult community that lives on the periphery of the training area. The built heritage that forms the focus of the project is that constructed for Second World War and Cold War defences, as well as the historic buildings and archaeological sites under the stewardship of Defence Estates and sited on the training area and its periphery.

Continuing throughout the project will be a series of illustrated talks and guided walks delivered by local and visiting experts, including those from RCAHMS. The project culminates in a three-day community event in Summer 2010 that will take the form of a celebration of the project outcomes which will include heritage briefing materials for the troops; a portfolio of education activities; web resources made available through Scran; and an enhanced relationship between the military and community in relation to the built heritage and how it is understood and made accessible.