A 3 · Special characteristics of the historic environment
The built heritage in Britain is outstandingly rich. It is around all of us, and extends constantly into our everyday lives.
The number of sites is enormous. In terms of individual buildings, the figures include 13,000 listed Church of England parish churches in England alone (many with important artefacts) as well as Anglican cathedrals, Nonconformist and Roman Catholic churches, synagogues and mosques; over 600 Scottish churches and Welsh chapels; over 600 country houses throughout United Kingdom regularly open to the public, as well as gardens; 1,200 sites, primarily ruined buildings and archaeological sites, both above and below ground, in the care of English Heritage; many industrial and maritime archaeological sites; and innumerable buildings, streets and parks within historic towns and cities.
A large proportion of the historic environment is in private hands, with important financial consequences. Private ownership makes an enormous impact on the way these properties are run, and on their provision for learning. For private owners, financial considerations have to be important, so that education may take second place to money-making activities, or contribute to marketing and fund-raising initiatives. The goodwill of private owners in sharing their possessions, notably the smaller houses which are not money-making concerns, is often overlooked.
Many historic sites belong to trusts, and are heavily dependent on the activities of volunteers. Very diverse in character, these range from small groups of volunteers working in churches and building preservation bodies, to major independent organisations such as the National Trust for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the National Trust for Scotland. Government is fortunate that such an extraordinary contribution is made by the voluntary sector.
The role of the independent sector, including both the National Trusts and a whole range of other trusts, is of crucial importance. The two National Trusts (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and for Scotland) have a total of 3.5 million members and own an extraordinary wealth of landscapes and buildings. Much of the most important work in historic preservation is carried out by the National Trusts, which receive no public subsidy (other than for specific capital projects). Internationally, this situation is unique. The National Trusts (however often they are criticised in this country) are the wonder of the world, and one of the most impressive achievements of contemporary Britain. They are important not only for what they physically preserve, but for the attitudes they embody - care for old buildings, intelligent preservation of the countryside, high standards of craftsmanship. Many other trusts, on a smaller scale, achieve remarkable results. Government in the United Kingdom, in every form, needs to recognise how fortunate Britain is to possess such a resource.
Historic buildings, unlike museums, were seldom intended to serve primarily as places to visit, or as classrooms. Many remain in active use for their original purposes, whether this is residence, worship, learning, military or naval activity, industry or commerce. Adapting to a new role as an historic site open to the public may well be difficult. In the case of Oxford or Cambridge colleges, often of outstanding historical and architectural interest, mass tourism can only with great difficulty be reconciled with maintaining a suitable environment for college life.
The lived-in character and the varied life of historic buildings are often of great interest to visitors, a factor which those responsible for historic buildings have not always appreciated. In contrast to museums, which can offer an artificial and even dehumanised environment, the life which is or has been led in an historic building, or the ceremonies performed there, are an essential ingredient in the visitor's experience.
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