A LOCAL history society has received a £4,500 boost for a new project to tell the story of the village.

Charmouth Local History Society (CLHS) has received a £4,500 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to increase the exposure of Charmouth's history.

The project will focus on upgrading the CLHS website and creating a number of regular pop-up exhibitions across the village.

These pop-up exhibitions will see themed extracts of the CLHS archives on display around Charmouth for short periods of time. Four events per year will be planned initially, but more may be organised in future if they prove to be popular.

The new website will include an online shop, membership signup facilities and blog, better access to the CLHS archives and online publications.

Helen Parker, Chair of CLHS said “We are delighted to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players and are confident the project will make residents and visitors (both home and overseas) better aware of Charmouth’s rich heritage.”

Charmouth has a rich heritage, going all the way back to the days of the Roman Empire.

Many existing buildings have historical connections and form part of the village’s self-guided heritage trail. Royalty, including Catherine of Aragon, Charles II and George III have visited in the past.

The village was a favourite of Jane Austen, mentioning the village in her novel ‘Persuasion’ and Mary Anning did much of her geological work on Charmouth Beach.

It is hoped that the project will provide opportunities for local young people to explore the village’s history.

Charmouth Local History Society acts to promote interest in the local history of the village of Charmouth and its immediate surroundings and to make its history available to the wider community.

It collects, preserves and ensures access to an archive of documents, photographs and artefacts relating to Charmouth’s social and architectural history so that residents, visitors and future generations can use these for research and educational purposes.

For more information on CLHS, visit www.charmouthlocalhistorysociety.org.uk.