What does the sea mean to the people of Plymouth? What are the connections people have with the sea? What are the cultural barriers that prevent people connecting with the sea? In partnership with the National Marine Park, this Collaborative Doctoral Award crosses Heritage, Architecture and Cultural Geography to explore the value of place in a port city. Understanding Plymouth Sound in terms of human interactions with the marine environment, the CDA will draw on place attachment theory, to examine the ‘heritage value’ of the sea to the people of Plymouth. Embedded with the NMP, the CDA will take a place-based research methodology to work with community groups across the city including older adults, younger adults, intergenerational families and new arrivals, gathering the memories, stories and meanings people attach to the city and the sea. Making connections to place creates a sense of belonging, a sense of ownership that can build confidence and improve health and wellbeing. Listening to different, diverse voices will enable the NMP to make those connections by telling better, more meaningful stories. The CDA will include a CPD project working with the NMP to develop its interpretation strategy based on community voices.
The supervisory team includes
Professor Daniel Maudlin , Director of Studies (History and Heritage),
Dr Zoe Latham (Architecture) and Elaine Hayes (adviser; CEO National Marine Park)