Overview

Cornwall Heritage Trust owns and/or manages 20 historic sites over the length and breadth of Cornwall. Ranging from hillforts to standing stones, well houses to engine houses our portfolio is an eclectic mix of types and ages and spreads across over 300 acres of Cornwall’s historic landscape. Excitingly, we are also about to take on the ownership of a Georgian Country House and have plans to acquire two further historic sites this year.

When contemplating acquisition of a “new” site we have three main considerations: firstly, does it have historic or heritage value? Secondly, is the place considered to be “at risk” in some way, whether that’s inclusion on the Heritage At Risk Register or having been identified locally as being under threat? And finally, that it has no limitations to public access i.e. is there a right of way to the property? Accessibility to the communities that surround the site is paramount, enabling them to better appreciate and understand the heritage on their doorsteps.

The places in our care are often Scheduled Monuments and sometimes Listed; some sit within the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site; some of them are part of the Cornwall National Landscape (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty); and many also have special designations relating to their ecology, for example Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). What ties them all together is that they contain important aspects of Cornwall’s heritage.

Our sites are not just historic properties, they are the venues for activities, events, wellbeing sessions, walks and talks; they are central to the local communities that surround them and a fundamental part of the work that we do to preserve, strengthen and interpret Cornwall’s heritage.

The RoleStrategic Planning

• Deliver the property and sites elements of the strategic plan and ensure adequate resourcing, in the form of staffing and equipment, for successful delivery
• Produce capital works plans and future project plans to inform workflows, budgets and funding applications; liaise with the Finance Manager to create and manage a realistic annual budget and projections for the historic sites in our care
• Actively seek external funding to help resource plans for the various historic sites and planned projects
• Research and identify potential future acquisitions, mindful of our focus on heritage at risk and free public access.
• Seek opportunities to build on the way in which we manage the land in our care, for example, through agri-environment schemes

Management of historic sites

• Ensure that our historic landscapes and sites are protected and enhanced by creating management plans for each of the sites in the Trust’s care, ensuring that their heritage and archaeological needs are a key focus balanced alongside each site’s unique habitats and biodiversity
• Ensure compliance with the requirements of all management, stewardship and funding agreements
• Ensure all legal obligations are met with regard to public footpaths, rights of way etc
• Manage resources and ensure that team capacity is sufficient for the planned tasks that they are adequately equipped and that all kit is serviced and fully functional
• Oversee projects and contractors
• Identify and manage risks and ensure that mitigations are in place to protect the Trust’s staff and members of the public. Ensure that all activity complies with relevant legislation and internal policies

Staffing

• Management of the team with a view to ensuring that everyone works to their strengths
• Oversight and development of the on-site volunteering programmes
• Ensure sufficient staffing capacity to meet the aims of the strategies and plans

Liaison with external partners and agencies

• Identify, nurture and grow relationships with external partners to promote collaborative projects and initiatives
• Liaison with funders and those with whom we have management agreements, e.g. Higher-Level Stewardship and English Heritage. Identification of ways in which we can expand these relationships
• Build links to statutory bodies, such as Natural England and Historic England, to raise awareness of the charity’s work and ensure conformance with statutory requirements
• Work closely with partners such as the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site’s team and Cornwall National Landscapes to identify potential collaborations and shared best practice
• Liaison with custodians, graziers, tenants and licence holders to ensure a shared ethos and a good understanding of our strategic, as well as management, aims

Outreach

• Work with the wider team to facilitate community engagement activities and outreach events at the sites and remotely
• Ensure high quality interpretation of the historic properties, both on and off site
• Oversee projects to improve accessibility to the sites and identify innovative solutions to encourage visitors
• Liaison with the Practical Tasks group and local landowners to develop the scheme

General

• Lead reporting to trustees via the quarterly Property Sub Committee meetings and by attendance at the quarterly Council of Management meetings
• Provide support to the wider team as required