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About The Project

I have conducted extensive research on fishing heritage in Britain. This has involved recovering overlooked histories and making recommendations for the application of maritime heritage in local and national contexts.

My doctoral research at Swansea University examined small-scale fishing and seafood heritage in South Wales to illuminate wider social, cultural and environmental transformations and inform inclusive approaches to coastal tourism, environmental stewardship, and fisheries policy. This project was funded by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Swansea University.

This project was underpinned by an ambitious combinations of methods including oral history interviews, ethnographic site visits, archival research, photography, mapping, and audio recording. In addition to written outputs, I produced a soundscape and deposited a collection of oral history interviews in the Richard Burton Archives, Swansea University.

I have also carried out research on the impact of heritage-led regeneration in North Shields Fish Quay, a fishing port in the North East of England. This work has contributed to debates on the social and cultural value of the fishing industry and has influenced efforts to incorporate local knowledge into planning and policy in post-industrial coastal towns.

Testimonial

"Katherine approached the project with professionalism, maturity, and intelligence. Her research skills are second to none, and she quickly developed a thorough understanding of the complexities involved in oral history interviewing, particularly around data protection and copyright. Her work was consistently thoughtful, meticulous, and insightful. The recordings she produced are a wonderful addition to the archive collections at Swansea University and will serve as an invaluable resource for future research into the fishing industry in South Wales." (Emily Hewitt, Archivist)

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About The Project

I developed a decolonised heritage interpretation for the Kidwelly Tinplate Museum on behalf of CofGâr (Carmarthenshire Museum Service) and Swansea University. This project was funded by Welsh Government through the Anti-Racist Wales Culture Fund.

It used archival records to reveal historical injustices associated with the South Wales tinplate industry, especially those related to the trade of enslaved people.

The project culminated with a dissemination event in which community stakeholders were invited to engage with these new narratives and contribute their ideas for the future of the museum.

The report of findings will inform interpretation strategies moving forward and strengthen the case for the re-development of the Kidwelly Tinplate Musuem.

What I Offer

I offer consultancy services to organisations and communities seeking to document, interpret, and share their heritage. I have particular experience working with fishing and coastal communities, industrial heritage sites, and food heritage.

Areas of Expertise

• Project development
• Interpretation planning
• Community consultation
• Public speaking
• Grant applications

Get in Touch

If you are interested in working together, please contact me to discuss your project.

Journal Articles

• Watson, K. G. (2025) 'Ships of Memory: Navigating Post-Industrial Landscapes and Participant Engagement through Photographic Reflections', Journal of Contemporary Archaeology, 12:1, 142-154, https://doi.org/10.1558/jca.26820
• Watson, K. G. (2023) 'Heritage-Making in the Capitalocene: Deconstructing Fishing Heritage and Regeneration in an English Fishing Port', International Journal of Heritage Studies, 29:7, 711–727, https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2023.2220329

Blog Posts

• 'Sea, Sunburn, and Fish & Chips: Reflections on 'May Day' in Britain' DePOT Blog. May 2023
• 'Small-Scale Fisheries, Local Seafood and the Future of Fishing Heritage in South Wales' CHART Blog. February 2023