Coastal Heritage and Socio-Economic Decline on the Isle of Sheppey: Learning from the lost village of Elmley in Kent
AHRC/CHASE Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) PhD studentship in collaboration with the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Kent, and Hillcrest Conservation Consultants (Hillcrest Enterprises South Ltd) – Coastal Heritage and Socio-Economic Decline on the Isle of Sheppey: Learning from the lost village of Elmley in Kent.
Qualification type: PhD
Location: School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Kent, Marlowe Building, Canterbury, CT2 7NR
Funding for: UK Students and International Students
Funding amount: fees and stipend at AHRC rates (for the current academic year 2024-25, the stipend rate is £19,837). This includes enhanced stipend to cover additional travel costs relating to the project. Please note: this funding amount typically increases with inflation each academic year. Access to additional funding related to research/equipment/event costs will be available.
Closes: Monday 17 February 2025, 12 noon
Tuesday 12 November, 15:30-17:00
Join us for this webinar to find out about this CHASE Collaborative Doctoral Award and how to apply.
The following projects will be featured in the webinar:
Domesticating ‘Invalid Furniture,’ c. 1850-1914
Re-storying the Sussex Weald Garden: Exotics, Empire and Ecobiography
Coastal Heritage and Socio-Economic Decline on the Isle of Sheppey: Learning from the lost village of Elmley
Coastal Heritage and Socio-Economic Decline on the Isle of Sheppey: Learning from the lost village of Elmley in Kent
Applications are invited for a CDA with the University of Kent and Hillcrest Conservation Consultants, Kent. Working with leading professionals in heritage conservation, you will explore coastal heritage, and how industrial shifts, climate change, and economic factors contribute to the erosion of cultural landmarks and community identities. Focussing on the lost village of Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, the aim is to provide guidelines for heritage conservation as a vehicle for community regeneration.
You will conduct in-depth archival research, gather oral histories, and engage with local communities, alongside extensive site analysis/surveying, using advanced technologies. This information and data will be used as a springboard for informing regeneration proposals generated in partnership with communities around wider Sheppey, drawing on participatory practices and co-design methodologies.
We welcome applications from candidates with backgrounds in a related field. Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, ideally (though not exclusively) from the locality, or with some connection to it, are particularly encouraged to apply.
The studentship
Project aims and objectives
By exploring the architectural, cultural, and socioeconomic dimensions of the Isle of Sheppey, this research will contribute to a deeper understanding of how the preservation and revitalisation of historical sites can foster community identity, stimulate economic growth, and address contemporary issues of coastal decline.
By interpreting and preserving the historical and architectural legacy of places like Elmley, the project aims to create pathways for economic regeneration through heritage tourism, educational initiatives, and community engagement. Additionally, raising awareness of the island’s heritage can attract investment and support for broader regeneration efforts, helping create new opportunities for employment and community development. This research will also examine how the decline of Elmley and similar communities can be linked to wider economic trends and environmental factors, including the impact of climate change on coastal areas such as sea-level rise and increased flooding, which threaten remaining coastal heritage sites and exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
The project is intended to have two ‘chapters’ from the outset: firstly, research and preparation of the documentation; secondly, utilising this information and data as a springboard for informing regeneration proposals generated in partnership with the local community (around wider Sheppey), drawing on participatory practices and co-design methodologies. This second part of the equation focusing on community regeneration is critical in terms of demonstrating the project’s value.
Supervisor details
The project brings together Dr Manolo Guerci and Chloe Street Tarbatt, respectively first and second supervisor on the University of Kent side, and Christopher Moore, Director and Partner of the Hillcrest Conservation Consultants, a company specialised in building conservation in Kent, as the external partner.
Dr Manolo Guerci is an award-winning architectural historian, heritage and conservation specialist, with a background in both practice and academia. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, England’s oldest institution for the study and preservation of heritage, he has a track record of supervising doctoral students to completion, quite a few on topics involving heritage as a tool for regeneration.
Chloe Street Tarbatt is a registered architect and academic with a strong focus on community-oriented architectural projects, exemplified in her setting up of the ‘Urban Room’. She has extensive experience in both academia and professional practice, particularly in integrating design education with real-world projects through her ‘Live Projects’ initiatives.
Christopher Moore has led extensive heritage conservation projects in the region, is the Vice Chair of the CIOB's (Chartered Institute of Building) Heritage Working Group, and a former Board Member and Guardian of SPAB, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, one of the oldest and better-known international charities for the protection of architectural heritage.
Available training opportunities
The successful candidate will acquire significant skills in all aspects pertaining to this interdisciplinary project, including how to search, identify and process complex archival, oral and material sources, and how to interpret those effectively within an elaborate analysis; how to survey the area of study, including buildings in different stages of conservation, with complex tools and software; how to organise, and learn from community engagement activities. In addition, both the University of Kent and the external partner will provide training opportunities geared towards both the academic and industry related sides of the study, as appropriate.
Partner resources
The external partner will bring a wealth of practical and technical expertise to the project, offering access to cutting-edge tools, methodologies, and professional networks essential for the study. With in-depth experience in documenting and restoring heritage sites, the partner will provide hands-on training in surveying, mapping, and interpreting architectural remains, using modern technologies like 3D laser scanning, drone photography, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Moreover, his involvement will facilitate knowledge exchange between academia and industry, fostering an interdisciplinary approach that blends scholarly analysis with conservation practice. Through site visits and individual coaching led by the partner, the candidate will gain invaluable insights into how conservation challenges are addressed in a professional context. Hillcrest Conservation Consultants’ expertise in building restoration will also aid in the interpretation of Elmley’s architectural remains, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of the settlement's historical significance and how it can inform current practices in heritage management.
Research environment
The School of Architecture, Design and Planning at the University of Kent offers a diverse, multicultural and inclusive environment where our students thrive. Its research excellence was ranked 6th overall in the UK in the last REF21, while its dual intensity nature, whereby staff are active in research and teaching in equal measures, allows research to inform all we do. It also allows our PhD students to collaborate directly to our teaching, thereby gaining experience in all aspects of academic life. The School is very active in the region and nationally, and is part of a significant professional network which allows our students to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders. The professional aspect is further enhanced here by the interdisciplinary nature of this PhD, whereby our external partner brings an extensive portfolio of high-level regional engagement and networking.
This project will therefore provide the successful candidate with a series of interchangeable skills in between academia and practice, and with significant exposure to heritage specialism and professional networks.
The candidate:
We welcome applications from candidates with backgrounds in a related field, including architecture, archaeology, history, surveying, or humanities-based subjects. Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, ideally (though not exclusively) from the locality, or with some connection to it, are particularly encouraged to apply.
Essential skills/attributes:
Interest in architectural history, heritage conservation, community engagement and regeneration, and enthusiasm for and/or prior experience in these.
Ability to work with multiple stakeholders, or willingness to learn quickly.
Willingness to learn new skills, both in academia and industry, and engage with professional networks, local groups, and associations.
Enthusiasm for contributing to the revitalisation and conservation of cultural heritage, particularly in coastal areas and the Isle of Sheppey.
Master’s degree in architecture (Part 2) or an appropriate subject, or equivalent track record and professional experience.
Desirable skills/attributes:
Prior hands-on experience in conservation projects or architectural restoration and a basic understanding of conservation principles.
Understanding of the relationship between heritage, community identity, and economic regeneration.
Confidence managing and leading group sessions.
How to apply
Applications for this collaborative studentship must be made via the University of Kent. Please follow each step carefully when applying:
Step 1: Download and complete the Kent Collaborative Doctoral Award Application form
Step 2: Apply for a PhD at Kent – PhD Architecture
Research Proposal – in this section of the online application, indicate the project title and details of the CHASE Collaborative Doctoral Award
Reasons for Study – in this section please copy and paste your statement from the Collaborative Doctoral Award application (see Step 1)
Supervisor – please indicate Dr Manolo Guerci as your primary supervisor
Step 3: Submit your Kent Collaborative Doctoral Award Application Form to the Graduate and Researcher College by emailing kentgrc@kent.ac.uk by the deadline. You MUST complete this step to be considered for a CHASE Collaborative studentship at Kent. Please enclose the following information in your email submission:
Kent Collaborative Doctoral Award Application
Full Name
KentVision applicant/student ID number
Preferred email address
Terms and conditions
The studentship is subject to UKRI eligibility criteria, and will cover home or EU fees and stipend at UKRI rates for a maximum of four years full-time, or eight years part-time study, subject to institutional regulations.
Informal Enquiries
Informal enquiries about this collaborative project can be sent to Dr Manolo Guerci, mg316@kent.ac.uk