An interview with… Lucie Bolton, Fifth Continent Heritage Officer
I began by asking Lucie to tell us a bit about her background:
LB: I grew up in Kent, and I remember always being aware of the tremendous amount of history and archaeology we have surrounding us. I loved History and Geography at school, and I started to think about a career in archaeology when I was around
16. It was not long after that I had my first experience volunteering on a site at Canterbury.
I went on to do an undergraduate degree in Archaeology at the University of Exeter before doing a Masters in Palaeolithic Archaeology and Human Origins at the University of Southampton. I returned to Southampton for my PhD which was also in Palaeolithic
Archaeology and included studying material from many well-known Palaeolithic sites from Kent such as Cuxton and Frindsbury.
RT: What did you do after graduating? Did you head straight into the heritage sector?
LB: After completing my PhD, I worked for a few years as a
Palaeolithic Specialist in commercial archaeology and spent much time working in the Ebbsfleet area. I finally moved across to my current role as a Community Archaeologist working for Kent County Council a year ago, and I have been seconded to Kent
Wildlife Trust as the Heritage Officer for the Fifth Continent since then.
RT: Tell us about the Fifth Continent Project.
LB: The Fifth Continent is a Heritage Lottery Funded,
Landscape Partnership Scheme based on Romney Marsh. We have many projects we are delivering which focus on heritage, wildlife and community on the Marsh.
RT: ‘Heritage Officer’ sounds like it possesses a broad remit of responsibilities?
LB: It does! My day to day role is quite varied, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I am the lead for three projects which are focusing on the heritage and archaeology of the Marsh. The projects are working with volunteers to carry out archaeological investigations on the churches and various landholdings. We are also investigating the possible locations of the pre- Medieval port of Romney.
RT: How does the role of the Heritage Officer fit into the Fifth Continent Project?
LB: I am one of three Project Officers, and there are five of us in the team altogether. My colleagues Stan Smith and Dawn Apcar are the Biodiversity and Community Officers. We also have our Scheme Manager Lisa Barrett-Smith and Team Administrator Viv Kenny.
RT: I’m aware that you’ve been leading community fieldwork as part of the Project… tell us a bit more about what you’ve been up to.
LB: Community fieldwork is a considerable part of the heritage projects, and all three of the projects have fieldwork planned.
We have run a number of training sessions for our volunteers covering topics such as landscape survey, geophysical survey and church surveys. Over the past month we have also carried out some
We also have a significant excavation planned for New Romney in summer 2019 so keep your eyes peeled for that!
RT: What are the biggest challenges facing community fieldwork in Kent at the moment?
LB: One of my biggest challenges at the moment is the weather! In commercial archaeology, I got used to working in all conditions but now I’m relying on volunteers I don’t feel I can ask them to work in the pouring rain. My volunteers are very dedicated, and most of them would turn up whatever the weather but I have had to rearrange a few activities at short notice over the past few weeks.
RT: Having been active now for a while, what would you say are the essential characteristics of a successful Heritage Officer?
LB: I think being organised is critical. Juggling three projects with 70 volunteers and multiple landowners can get quite complicated at times but I’m a big fan of to-do lists, and I’ve just discovered Bullet Journaling which is helping me to stay focused. It also helps that I’m a people person and I love talking to people about their local archaeology!
RT: What legacy do you hope to leave behind once the Fifth Continent Project ends?
LB: I hope this project helps people to connect with the history and archaeology of the Marsh. If by the end of this project people feel they know more about the archaeology on their doorstep, I will be happy.
