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Sheppey Heritage Trail extended to include Sheerness seafront as well as Queenborough landmarks

A historic trail spanning almost half a mile along Sheerness seafront has been set up.

The project is an expansion of the existing Sheppey Heritage Trail, a series of plaques installed across the Island's coastline showcasing its heritage.

The heritage trail organiser, John Jones, by the signs at Queenborough's sea wall. Picture: Paul Amos
The heritage trail organiser, John Jones, by the signs at Queenborough's sea wall. Picture: Paul Amos

The scheme has taken four years to research, develop and build. The first part was installed in last summer along Queenborough seafront.

The new section stretches from about the Sheerness Swimming Pool to The Moat, just passed Tesco.

From the gate in the sea wall at the top of Beach Street, the Sheppey Heritage Trail spreads out in both directions, in a more or less chronological order.

There are now 87 heritage boards covering 94 local history events and people of interest.

People can learn more about them by scanning a QR barcode on their smartphones as they walk passed the plaques.

An example of what one of the plaques looks like
An example of what one of the plaques looks like

Each piece of media they access lasts for about three minutes.

Organiser John Jones said: "The Sheppey Heritage Trail allows Sheppey’s breath-taking history to be bought to life, right at the place where it happened in an entertaining and exciting way.

"In all, the Sheppey Heritage Trail consists of 87 heritage boards, covering 94 local history subjects with more than 5 hours of video.

"As such is thought the be the biggest heritage trail of its kind in the United Kingdom. If the Sheppey Heritage Trail had been made commercially and not by volunteers, its estimated cost would be approaching £1 million.

"I would like to thank all the people from the Sheppey History Facebook Page who contributed with many ideas for the Sheppey Heritage Trail, some of which I would never have thought of myself. Sheppey Heritage Trail is truly “our” heritage trail."

"The Sheppey Heritage Trail consists of 87 heritage boards, covering 94 local history subjects."

He added that people from Reading and as far as Australia had contributed to the project.

The 74-year-old, originally from Queenborough, added: "Take your children or visiting friends to Queenborough and Sheerness seafront to show off our wonderful and surprising Island.

"Heritage tourism is a vital part of the UK economy.

"It is expected that a heritage attraction such as the Sheppey Heritage Trail will attract visitors, who will make an economic contribution to our Island."

You can download a QR code scanner by visiting your chosen app shop on your smartphone.

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