4th January 2008, 06:45 PM
To answer a few points:
The point I make it that archaeologists seem to regard Historic Environment and Archaeology as meaning the same thing. Archaeology is but one component of the Historic Environment. To my mind using the opening statement of PPG16 "fragile and finite" to cover the whole HE is misleading.
For example "And, incidentally, how do you 'enhance' a conservation area? -
A very basic quesation for a HE professional it is the basis for permission to be granted in a conservation area. I take the point about preserving the historic integrity of a place.
"hanging baskets" are a good example of what most would see as an enhacement but most conservation officers would not.
However modern conservation is not about fossilisation.
Ok so if we say all old buildings are part of the historic environment we have to ask how old do they have to be? 1 year, 10 years, 30 years? So in fact houses I help build 35 years ago in 1973 are eligble for listing. But whatever the cut off date the historic environment is increasing in size. This is not to say some elements are not under threat or are being lost far from it. (This is something I discussed at the BAJR conference).
Pauls says
"Frankly, I call your bluff! If money was your sole motivation for working then you would not have chosen to be an historic environment professional. Somewhere along the line you developed an interest in "the past" and decided to pursue it. Otherwise you might be working for an oil company, or in the financial markets at the Stock Exchange."
Funnily enough I earnt more on MSC schemes as a new graduate than I would have done working for an oil company which was my career alternative. I have also worked in the City and in IT.
The job I do now is not one anybody would do for the love of it.
There is no doubt that the HE does contribute to a sense of place - but this is not what we are discussing. What we are discussing is how the historic environment and history contribute to a sense of Britishness.
So for example are there building types which are recognisably British? There are some which are the same throughout the UK such as railway stations, pill boxes and other structures of the modern era. There is also Georgian Town Houses especially those designed by another famous son of Kirkcaldy Robert Adam.
The point I make it that archaeologists seem to regard Historic Environment and Archaeology as meaning the same thing. Archaeology is but one component of the Historic Environment. To my mind using the opening statement of PPG16 "fragile and finite" to cover the whole HE is misleading.
For example "And, incidentally, how do you 'enhance' a conservation area? -
A very basic quesation for a HE professional it is the basis for permission to be granted in a conservation area. I take the point about preserving the historic integrity of a place.
"hanging baskets" are a good example of what most would see as an enhacement but most conservation officers would not.
However modern conservation is not about fossilisation.
Ok so if we say all old buildings are part of the historic environment we have to ask how old do they have to be? 1 year, 10 years, 30 years? So in fact houses I help build 35 years ago in 1973 are eligble for listing. But whatever the cut off date the historic environment is increasing in size. This is not to say some elements are not under threat or are being lost far from it. (This is something I discussed at the BAJR conference).
Pauls says
"Frankly, I call your bluff! If money was your sole motivation for working then you would not have chosen to be an historic environment professional. Somewhere along the line you developed an interest in "the past" and decided to pursue it. Otherwise you might be working for an oil company, or in the financial markets at the Stock Exchange."
Funnily enough I earnt more on MSC schemes as a new graduate than I would have done working for an oil company which was my career alternative. I have also worked in the City and in IT.
The job I do now is not one anybody would do for the love of it.
There is no doubt that the HE does contribute to a sense of place - but this is not what we are discussing. What we are discussing is how the historic environment and history contribute to a sense of Britishness.
So for example are there building types which are recognisably British? There are some which are the same throughout the UK such as railway stations, pill boxes and other structures of the modern era. There is also Georgian Town Houses especially those designed by another famous son of Kirkcaldy Robert Adam.