Nine new Kent local history projects are now in progress, supported by the latest grants from the Kent Archaeological Society.
Every year the society awards more than £3,000, divided among individuals, groups, organizations and students, to help cover the cost of research, publications, exhibitions and other projects focused on the county’s history and heritage.
The grants are made from the Allen Grove Local History Fund, the legacy of one of Kent’s most eminent historians of his generation who was Hon. Curator of the KAS for 26 years (and its President in 1987/88), Curator of Maidstone Museum from 1948 to 1975 and Chairman of the Kent History Federation for eight years.
When Allen Grove (pictured above) died in 1990 he left £26,000 from the proceeds of the sale of his house to the KAS, with instructions that the society should invest the legacy and distribute the interest in ways that would promote the enjoyment of Kent’s local history (including that of the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham, which were once part of the county).
The first grants were made in 1994. Since then the value of the fund has grown to more than £56,000 and the total amount awarded has exceeded £38,000, mainly to support the publication of books and booklets but also for displays in heritage centres, for oral history projects, and for establishing archives and research centres.
Application forms for the next tranche of grants should be submitted by 31 March 2017 and can be downloaded from www.kentarchaeology.org.uk or obtained by email from allengroveadmin@kentarchaeology.org.uk
