Prospect at Prospect Cottage

A rare chance to experience Sarah Wood's 'Prospect' (2025), an essay film constructed from newly restored material shot in the late 1980s when Derek Jarman first moved to Dungeness. For one weekend only, 'Prospect' returns home, installed under the eaves of the net loft at Prospect Cottage, opening up not only a space rarely seen by visitors, but also rarely seen Jarman rushes.

Entry is by timed ticket and pre-booking is essential. Tickets include a 25-minute guided tour of the interior of Prospect Cottage, time to explore Wood's installation, and the opportunity to visit Jarman's iconic garden.

Accessibility Information

Prospect Cottage is a historic building situated within the unique landscape of Dungeness. Due to the age and historic nature of the property, as well as the surrounding natural environment, access is limited in some areas. Visitors should be aware that surfaces may be uneven and some spaces may not be fully accessible to wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.

We are committed to welcoming as many people as possible and will do our best to support individual access requirements. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and encourage visitors to contact us in advance if they would like to discuss their access needs.

Getting Here

To help reduce our environmental impact, please consider using public transport. There are regular bus links from Ashford (bus 11) and Rye (bus 102). You can also travel to Prospect Cottage by miniature railway or bicycle. Please visit Stagecoach for the latest bus information.

Please do not park around the Cottage as vehicles can become stuck in the shingle. Parking is available on the right-hand side just past the Dungeness Snack Shack.

About the Film

'Prospect' is made from previously unseen rushes taken by Derek Jarman in preparation for his feature film The Garden. Filmed in the late 1980s, these rushes not only record Jarman's early days at Prospect Cottage but also capture the quiet beauty of the Kent coast and the rhythm of his daily life. They are at once archival objects of history and gifts of unrealised vision.

Taking its starting point from the vitality, generosity and wide-open vision of Jarman's creative process, 'Prospect' considers what we have inherited, what sustains us, and what might help us imagine a future. Each frame speaks of love, attention to nature and a more dynamic way of living. It invites us to reflect on what really matters.

Part archive and part poetic essay, 'Prospect' offers a moving tribute to Jarman's creative legacy and enduring vision for a more open and compassionate future.

Director: Sarah Wood. UK, 15 mins, 2025
Produced by James Mackay
A Basilisk Communications Production


Commissioned by

The Hunterian, University of Glasgow.

With the generous support of:

The LUMA Foundation, BFI National Archive and Creative Folkestone. Commission made possible with Art Fund support.