Saint Helena’s past role on the world stage, out of all proportion to its size, has left a legacy of historic buildings and a landscape full of the marks of human hands. This historic fabric is unique and internationally important; while some elements may be present elsewhere in the world, they are rarely found within such a complete network of sites, many are found nowhere else. As with so many assets, this legacy is a blessing and a responsibility. It will be key to bringing tourism and investment to the island and forms a large part of
its sense of place and unique identity, however to fully exploit the opportunities it offers it must be conserved and protected, which will take a great deal of effort and finance.
To help coordinate the effort and secure finances it is proposed that the Saint Helena Heritage Project (SHHP) is established; this project will have a simple aim - Protecting Saint Helena’s Physical Heritage.

Long term, the SHHP will aim to equip the island with the local skills, materials and finance to understand, record, conserve and manage its own historic environment, well into the future.
In the short to medium term it will seek to provide the expertise needed to establish a solid management framework, at both a private and government level, and to build projects with both sectors to further the aims of the SHHP. These individual projects will provide training for individuals in both heritage management and the craft skills necessary to repair and maintain the island’s built heritage, and local employment in these areas, building towards the long-term goal of a self-sufficient island heritage sector.

The UK is just about to complete a review of the World Heritage Site system and its financial viability. Given a positive outcome, they will seek new entries on the Tentative List to be, in time, put forward for World Heritage Site Status. Saint Helena is undoubtedly sufficiently important to succeed in a bid; however,
the bid is the end of a process which puts in place management and planning structures which provide protection for the historic fabric. Should the SHHP succeed in its short to medium term goals all of the systems will be in place to facilitate a successful application. This could provide a focus for the works, and a potentially useful tool for tourism and publicity.

The SHHP is in its infancy and is seeking to involve interested parties who feel they would have something to contribute. More information will be available shortly at: www.sainthelenaheritage.org

Contact is easiest via email at ben@blackfreighter.net, post should be dropped into the National Trust offices
for the attention of the SHHP. The project is being led by Ben Jeffs a UK based Building Conservator and Andrew Pearson, also UK based and an Archaeological Consultant; feel free to talk things through and make any suggestions in person while they are on island.

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