Heritage, Conservation and Communities
This article originally appeared as ‘From expert to facilitator’ in IHBC’s Context 151, published in September 2017. It was written by Bridget Turnbull, director at Gillinggate Heritage and recent past education secretary of the IHBC.
Heritage, Conservation and Communities; Engagement, participation and capacity building. Edited by Gill Chitty, Routledge, 2017, 304 pages, 56 black and white illustrations.
Forming part of Routledge’s heritage, culture and identity series, this volume focuses on engaging communities in heritage conservation. It draws from the 2014 conference on the subject and collaborations at the University of York, where Gill Chitty is director of the conservation studies programme. In addition to the editorial contextual introduction, the book comprises 18 contributions from a wide range of heritage practitioners in the UK and across the world, covering approaches to community engagement as well as individual case studies.
Despite several decades of local community involvement in heritage conservation, UK practice has been slow to evolve. Unlike the established community focus in archaeology, much conservation work has centred on what contributions heritage can make to society and the economy rather than on locally-led active participation. It is not only the reduction in public resources for heritage conservation, but also the gathering momentum of participative direct involvement of communities in place-shaping, that mean we are now entering a new era. These changes are altering the role of the heritage professional from authoritative expert to enabling facilitator.
It is against this changing social backdrop that the diverse contributions in this volume are of interest to the conservation professional. In Part 1 on approaches, some chapters, such as those by Jukka Jokilehto and Nigel Walter, explore this context in more depth. Of interest are the international contributions like Nerupama Modwel’s piece on intangible cultural heritage in India. It is fascinating in its own right, and serves as a mirror in which to examine UK attempts to grapple with intangible cultural heritage. Part 2 comprises 10 case studies from Yorkshire to Japan that drill down into the practicalities of engaging conservation in community practice.
Each contribution has its own style, diagrams and layout that often reflect the subject matter. The chapter by Brigham et al on living with history in York uses the format of a conversation. Others, such as that on the Martos project workshop in Spain, employ a report style. The diagrams add to an understanding of the content although their quality, and that of some of the black-and-white images, could have been sharper.
This volume brings together a wide range of theoretical issues and practical examples. It offers us real insights into the shift between established professional conservation value-centred methodologies to more people-centred approaches. No one said it was going to be easy.
This article originally appeared as ‘From expert to facilitator’ in IHBC’s Context 151, published in September 2017. It was written by Bridget Turnbull, director at Gillinggate Heritage and recent past education secretary of the IHBC.
--Institute of Historic Building Conservation
Find out more
Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
IHBC NewsBlog
Historic Photographer of the Year 2020 Winners Announced
The awards showcase the very best historic places and cultural sites from across the globe.
IHBC Launches new ‘Guidance Note’ on Alterations to Listed Buildings
The IHBC’s latest Toolbox Guidance Note, on ‘Alterations to Listed Buildings’ has been issued following UK-wide consultation.
Caithness Iron Age Stone Tower Conserved
The ruins of Ousdale Burn Broch, north of Helmsdale in Caithness, had fallen into further disrepair over the past 130 years.
The American Air Museum at Duxford has been listed Grade II*
Europe’s largest air museum and Britain’s best-preserved Second World War airfield – has been included in Grade II* listing, even though technically too recent.
West Dean College wins Sussex Heritage Trust Award 2020 for Roof Restoration
The College of Arts and Conservation has won the award for a for a project which provides or improves facilities for the community, including a £5.8M restoration of the College’s 126-year-old roof.
Stowe North Hall & WMF: A Step Closer to Completion
Completion of the restoration of Stowe House’s North Hall, largely funded by World Monuments Fund (WMF), came a step closer this summer with the installation of a statue of Mercury opposite the imposing Laocoön group installed last year.
IHBC CREATIVE Conservation Fund launched
The CREATIVE Conservation Fund helps the IHBC generate and distribute funds exclusively to deserving causes in built and historic environment conservation.
The tunnel near Plymouth with a nuclear secret
For years, there have been rumours whispered around Plymouth and Cornwall about so-called ‘nuclear tunnels’ that exist beneath the Tamar Valley.
141 bridges with ‘very poor’ rating remain open to avoid disruption
Just under half of England’s busiest bridges are severely defected or damaged, but have remained open due to concerns about an influx of traffic should repairs be ordered, it has been revealed.
IHBC’s new issue of 'Context' released, Oxford themed
The issue focusses on the future of an historic city – Oxford – and includes an introduction by Layla Moran MP, Chair of the new APPG on Conservation, People and Places which has the IHBC as its Secretariat.