A newly formed charity has applied for a £100,000 grant in its bid to take over the empty boatyard building on the Quay in Sandwich.

Last week, KentOnline exclusively reported that Dover District Council (DDC) had paid out almost £88,000 to regain public ownership of Sandwich Historical Boatyard after a lease was issued to the wrong company.

The blunder, which DDC has taken responsibility for, caused a two-year delay in what had been an exciting new project for boat-building apprentices and a potential tourism attraction for the town.

Now, the authority is in discussions with other community groups over the future use of the site with a new charity Sandwich Medieval Trust showing a firm interest, keen to see the empty building put to community use.

The trust is made up of trustees Steve Lastlett, Cllr Lynne O’Donoghue and Julia Baxter, as well as Bob Martin who involved in the original project.

They met with DDC in February and March, and say their aims and objectives are principally educational, seeking to bring together interested groups within the local community, plus visitors and historians.

The particular focus is on the late medieval period between 1335 and 1485, a tumultuous time in the history of England when Sandwich was a major seaport and the main mustering point for troops and ships.

Chairman Mr Laslett said: “We applied to register the trust as a charity in March specifically in time to be able to submit an application to the Weston Foundation before the deadline this weekend.

“Now that DDC has re-possessed the building we are able to proceed with discussions to repay the cost as was the original plan of our trust two years ago.

“The Weston Anniversary Fund is an unusual and exciting opportunity to repay the full cost in one go.”

The trust says the money will secure ownership of the building and the costs of building a replica medieval boat which will be moored on the Quay.

Mr Laslett added: “If we are successful, we’ll be able to deliver an exciting programme of activities for members and visitors starting in 2019.

“We plan to re-name the building the Sandwich Medieval Centre and to add land based medieval skills and re-enactments to the programme as well as the replica boat build.

“It has been frustrating to have kept our plans under wraps whilst DDC dealt with the sensitive legal problem of the previous lease, but we are ready to move forward now after this unfortunate two year delay.”

The Medieval Trust has briefed groups on its plans and will host a public meeting at The Guildhall at 10.30am tomorrow (Thursday).

Trustee Cllr Lynne O’Donoghue said: “It is important we involve the community in everything we do.

"We invite people to come along, learn about our project and hopefully join us as members or trustees.

“Anyone who has an interest in the medieval history of Sandwich is welcome to come and join us.”

Members of Sandwich Boatyard Action Group will attend to question the group on its proposals.