The Janus Foundation funded Kent's Maritime Communities project is a joint research and outreach project involving Dr Craig Lambert (PI) at the University of Southampton, Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh (CI) at CCCU, and Dr Robert Blackmore (RA) at Southampton, with two doctoral students at CCCU: Kieron Hoyle (f-t) and Jason Mazzocchi (p-t) who are researching allied topics.
The project explores the county's maritime communities in the context of connections and relationships with mainland Europe in the late medieval and Tudor periods by drawing on the considerable archival sources of national collections, such as TNA, as well as archival sources in Kent. The project team at Southampton are constructing a relational database using sources such the customs accounts, port books and muster rolls to investigate, for example, trade and traders.
In addition to a multi-authored book, under contract with Boydell, the team have run public workshops, produced an exhibition and taken part in other history and heritage events in Dover, Faversham and Medway. More events are planned for 2024, including an invitation to return to Dover.