{"id":31422,"date":"2021-10-12T17:37:46","date_gmt":"2021-10-12T16:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=31422"},"modified":"2021-10-12T17:37:46","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T16:37:46","slug":"new-context-out-on-conservation-leadership-by-the-people-from-amenity-societies-and-wentworth-woodhouse-to-kurt-schwitters-scotlands-towns-chester-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=31422","title":{"rendered":"New Context out, on \u2018Conservation leadership by the people\u2019: From Amenity Societies and Wentworth Woodhouse to Kurt Schwitters, Scotland\u2019s Towns, Chester and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The new issue of the IHBC\u2019s journal, Context<\/em> No. 169<\/a>, explores conservation led by the people, in particular communities\u2019 historic infrastructure such as amenity societies, the contributions of which \u2018will be more important than ever\u2026\u00a0 as \u2026 rather than waiting, the voluntary sector will be working from the bottom up.\u2019<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

The IHBC writes:<\/p>\n

Have you ever asked yourself why you are passionate about historic buildings (assuming that you have not devoted part of your life to conserving them because you could not think of anything else to do, or because your careers adviser suggested it, or because you failed your accountancy exams)?<\/p>\n

Some will say that whenever they see historic buildings they can not help imagining what went in and around them long ago, and that makes life much more fun. Others may say that historic buildings convey the feelings of the people who commissioned, designed and built them, which gives the viewer or user a feeling of connection with people long gone who shaped the world around them.<\/p>\n

\u2026 historic buildings and places have a special value in accommodating modern uses, and adapting successfully to changing circumstances\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

There are other reasons too. Most historic buildings were handmade: their craftsmanship enables people to share the satisfaction, and perhaps joy, that the builders felt in expressing themselves, in making something useful, or in working with fine, natural materials. Historic buildings and their local styles, uses and materials create places that are unique, creating a sense of belonging or of being somewhere special. And historic buildings and places have a special value in accommodating modern uses, and adapting successfully to changing circumstances.<\/p>\n

Those are only a few of the reasons to love historic buildings. Such feelings are shared not just by building conservation professionals, but by many other people. Many of them seek out historic buildings and places, and their lives are enriched by that. Others find more direct ways of expressing their enthusiasm as well: by campaigning to protect historic buildings and places, and by working within organisations devoted to finding new futures for them. This issue of Context <\/em>focuses on some of the organisations \u2013 amenity societies among them \u2013 that are devoted to that sort of work.<\/p>\n

\u2026 Matthew Saunders points out that a spirit of partnership between the government and the citizen has underpinned statutory listing since its introduction\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

To mention just a few of our articles, David Tittle highlights the potential of the charities, community organisations and social enterprises \u2013 members of the Heritage Trust Network \u2013 whose role as heritage custodians is to rescue, restore and reuse historic buildings, structures and spaces. Matthew Saunders points out that a spirit of partnership between the government and the citizen has underpinned statutory listing since its introduction, and that the first stirrings of conservation in this country have been relentlessly bottom-up rather than top-down, with national government generally following the voluntary movement. Marcus Binney reminds us of how, over four decades, the campaigns of SAVE Britain\u2019s Heritage have helped to shape national policy on conservation. Steven Robb describes the work of Scotland\u2019s Town Partnership in supporting the historic environment\u2019s role in regeneration and recovery.<\/p>\n

At a time of recovery from the pandemic, and of urgent efforts to build a green economy and greener ways of living, the contribution of amenity societies will be more important than ever. Achieving their full potential will depend on, among other things, enhancing skills and resourcing local authorities. As ever, rather than waiting for that to happen, the voluntary sector will be working from the bottom up.<\/p>\n

Themes articles include:<\/p>\n