The first 30 years of the Allen Grove Local History Fund

In the past three decades, what has linked the following?

• a variety of community exhibitions and publication of accompanying booklets

• recording of oral history contributions

• preservation of photographic glass negatives

• materials costs for a local history society to produce a community survey for the Millennium

• compilation of a brickmakers index

• purchase of a camera to assist and share in the visual recording of an archive through media

They are all projects that benefitted from the Allen Grove Local History Fund.

Next year (2024) marks the 30th anniversary of the awards!

[fg]Allen Grove, 1910–1990[/fg]Records indicate the first awards were made in 1994, so over the past thirty years and as the list above hints, over 140 different projects have been supported. This richly varied and impressive achievement was made possible due to a fund set up through a generous legacy of a former Society president, Allen Grove, shown left.

In 1948, L R Allen Grove was appointed Curator and Librarian of Maidstone Museum, a post he held until retirement in 1975. He was President of the Kent Archaeological Society 1986-1987 and, in a long and distinguished career, was involved with numerous other organisations, including the Society of Antiquarians.

Could your local history project or interest be eligible for a grant?

Applications for a wide range of local history projects are welcomed and encouraged from individuals, groups or societies. In the case of applications from groups or societies, the Fund Secretary will communicate with the project leader named in the application. Grants will NOT be made for excavation, fieldwork or works of fiction. Separate applications for grants for excavation and fieldwork should be made to the Fieldwork Committee of the Society.

Further guidance and application forms can be downloaded from the Society website or the Allen Grove Fund secretary (Allengroveadmin@kentarchaeology.org.uk).

Please note that application forms that have been signed and dated will only be considered, confirming acceptance of the Terms and Conditions. The window for submitting applications is from 1 June to 30 September. As soon as practicable after 30 September deadline for applications, the committee will meet to consider the applications received.

Grants are made once a year. The average grants recently awarded have been in the region of £500.

Turn your project into reality with a grant from the Allen Grove Local History Fund: we look forward to hearing from you!