Almost half a million pounds has been given to a project that will unearth the history of the Thames Estuary.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded £421,500 to the Thames Estuary Partnership to fully fund the Thames Discovery Programme (TDP), a three year project to investigate the longest archaeological site in London.

The project will give Londoners the chance to find out about the rich maritime and industrial history stretching along the river that is uncovered at each low tide. But it is that same twice-daily tide that is washing the evidence away.

The TDP is a collaborative project run by the Thames Estuary Partnership and the Thames Explorer Trust, with support from the Museum of London, English Heritage and the University College London.

Volunteers will conduct an archaeological survey of the river foreshore, monitor 20 sites of particular interest, set up a website and blog, run community events and hold an annual forum to discuss and disseminate each year's findings.

London schoolchildren will be involved with between 150 and 200 schools offered the chance to take part by visiting one of 10 education centres belonging to the Tidal Thames Education Network.

A travelling exhibition will visit up to five London venues annually showing communities how the project works and displaying some of the artefacts uncovered.

Jill Goddard, executive director of Thames Estuary Partnership, said: "The river remains a largely untapped and unrealised resource and we do not even have an accurate map of its archaeological sites. This project will enable us to do that and involve the public at the same time."

If you would like to get involved with the project or want to know more, email Jill Goddard.

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:27:22 +0100