Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

Heritage at Risk: Risky Heritage? Perspectives on York’s historic city landscape

Dr Gill Chitty, Dept of Archaeology, University of York

Students from York’s Department of Archaeology worked on the City’s recent pilot project with English Heritage to ‘Help Historic Buildings’, assessing historic buildings-at-risk in York.  The results were unsurprising in some ways but led on to further reflections. Is riskiness a necessary ingredient of recognising heritage? There have been threats to York’s historic centre in modern times – war damage, post-war redevelopment, neglect – that have left their own legacy for today but what might be the riskier aspects of York’s contemporary heritage?  New understandings of heritage present it as an evolving social and cultural process, as well as fixed material inheritance: so what risks could York embrace in shaping the city’s 21^st century heritage?

NOTE: The lecture will be preceded by the Presentation of the Charles Wellbeloved and Herman Ramm Awards

Member’s report

York’s historic city centre has long been the focus of friction between conservationists and planners. Public attitudes to architecture change, and are often influential in decision-making. A plan to demolish the bar walls was thwarted in 1799 by, among others, the YPS; and but for a public outcry, a post-World War II desire for clean lines and free movement of traffic might have caused the demolition of many streets and suburbs round the walls.

Notorious decisions taken between 1954 and 1967 (and later) led to the demolition of some fine buildings which destroyed whole streetscapes. Arguably monstrous replacements were erected – Stonebow House being the most cited, though it now attracts supporters of Brutalist architecture. The new Hiscox building in Peaseholm Green has been designed with more sensitivity towards its surroundings.

Some 70% of buildings recommended for listing are at risk of demolition. York students are involved in pilot projects actively recording all listed buildings at risk, in the hope of protecting them. But how much can be protected and conserved, in what form, and for what purpose? Cities change – what should be allowed to go, and what will be permitted in its place?

For more information see: www.historicengland.org.uk/

Carole Smith