Rame Conservation Trust

Rame Conservation Trust (RCT) is a United Kingdom registered charity established in 1997 to protect and promote the heritage assets at Maker Heights, a former military site on the Rame Peninsula in South East Cornwall. The Trust cares for a nationally important historic landscape that includes four Scheduled Ancient Monuments, the Grade II* listed Barrack Block, Nissen huts, and 12 hectares of rare unimproved grassland, woodland and other habitats. The site played an important role in the defence of Plymouth from the late 18th century and contains layers of social history from prehistoric settlement through military use to its 20th-century role as Maker Camp for disadvantaged children. RCT's purpose is defined in its governing documents and centres on promoting public access, education, experience and enjoyment of the site for communal benefit. It seeks new uses for the buildings in its care and, through its trading subsidiary Maker Heights Limited, rents spaces to over 25 artists and small enterprises, several of which operate as Community Interest Companies run by local families. The Trust also helped develop the Conservation Management Plan for the site in partnership with Cornwall Council, Historic England, the Mount Edgcumbe Estate and Evolving Places. Today Maker Heights is home to a thriving creative community of artists, musicians, artisans and makers, centred on the Barrack Block with its 22 affordable studio spaces, music venue and gallery, alongside a campsite and artisan businesses in the Nissen huts. RCT welcomes enjoyment of this historic coastal landscape while protecting it from development and preserving it for future generations.

Rame Conservation Trust was established as a charity in 1997 to protect and promote the heritage assets at Maker Heights for public benefit. Maker Heights itself is a former military site on the Rame Peninsula in South East Cornwall that played an important role in the defence of Plymouth from the late 18th century. Its social history extends from early prehistoric settlements, through strategic defensive uses up until the mid-twentieth century, to its use as Maker Camp for disadvantaged children from the 1920s to the 1980s. Since the early 1990s, Maker Heights has been home to a thriving community of creatives, musicians, artisans and makers, alongside a campsite. The Trust's purpose, defined within its governing documents, is to promote public access, education, experience and enjoyment to achieve communal value at Maker Heights. It seeks new uses for the buildings in its care and, through its trading subsidiary Maker Heights Limited, rents spaces to over 25 artists and small enterprises, several of which deliver social benefit as Community Interest Companies run by local families. The Trust cares for the natural and cultural heritage assets at Maker Heights, including four Scheduled Ancient Monuments, the iconic Grade II* Listed Barrack Block, the Nissen huts and 12 hectares of rare unimproved grassland, woodland and other habitats. It helped develop the Conservation Management Plan for the site working with Cornwall Council, Historic England, the Mount Edgcumbe Estate and Evolving Places. In recent decades, Maker Heights has become home to a creative community, making their own cultural history, much of which has been recorded through the Maker Memories project. The site is much loved by both the local community and visitors from further afield.

• 1997

  Rame Conservation Trust established as a charity to protect and promote the heritage assets at Maker Heights.

• 1990

  From the early 1990s, Maker Heights becomes home to a creative community of artists, musicians and makers.

• 1920

  Maker Camp for disadvantaged children operates at Maker Heights (until the 1980s).

A heritage conservation charity and community landlord preserving a nationally important historic coastal landscape while fostering a creative community.

• Heritage conservation and public access

• Affordable artist studios (22 spaces in the Barrack Block)

• Campsite and events

• Education and community programmes

1. 1Maker Heights | Explore, Discover, Enjoymakerheights.org.uk
2. 2Heritage | Explore Unique Traditions — Maker Heightsmakerheights.org.uk
3. 3About Maker Heights | Explore Heritage Today — Maker Heightsmakerheights.org.uk
4. 4Rame Conservation Trust | Explore Heritage Today — Maker Heightsmakerheights.org.uk
5. 5Rame Conservation Trustwikidata.org