Rich history of Waltham Abbey unveiled by Lord Petre
Date Published: 30/04/2008
Lord Petre and Elaine Fletcher unveil one of the interpretation boards
Lord Petre, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Essex was the guest of honour on Monday 28 April at a celebratory event at Abbey Gardens, Waltham Abbey. The King Harold Day Society supported by partners Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and Stewart Signs held the event to celebrate the completion of a project designed to share the rich history of Waltham Abbey with its many visitors.
A Lottery Local Heritage Initiative (now incorporated into the Heritage Lottery Fund) grant of £25,000 was awarded to the King Harold Day Society in June 2006 to install information boards in Abbey Gardens and towards the cost of staging the annual King Harold Day medieval event. Epping Forest District Council contributed a further £2,500 so that the information boards’ project could be completed in its entirety.
A partnership group was formed for the project between King Harold Day Society, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, The Abbey Church, Waltham Abbey Historical Society and Waltham Abbey Town Council. The group worked closely together with the outcome of producing ten information boards that explain the history of the area and enhance the visitor experience at Waltham Abbey.
The boards have been positioned carefully to reflect the unique heritage of the site and to highlight some of its most important historical features. These include the memorial to King Harold and the herringbone section of the wall at the east end of the church which was part of Harold’s church which he founded in 1060.
To find out more about, or to get involved with, the King Harold Day Society and the annual event please contact Tricia Gurnett via the website: http://www.kingharoldday.co.uk/, for information about the interpretation boards at Waltham Abbey contact Elaine Fletcher at elaine@fletcher1616.force9.co.uk