Politics of heritage, 1997-2011
Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive, English Heritage
Chaired by Dr Frank Salmon, Head of the Department of History of Art, University of Cambridge
Thursday 14 July 2011, 7.00pm
Madingley Hall, Cambridge
Watch a video of the lecture
This video (length: 1 hour, 13 minutes) includes:
- 00:00 - Dr Rebecca Lingwood: welcome and introductions
- 01:35 - Dr Frank Salmon: introduction to speaker
- 03:40 - Dr Simon Thurley: 'Saving the past: the politics of preservation since 1997'
- 48:05 - Dr Simon Thurley: audience questions
- 70:20 - Dr Rebecca Lingwood: closing remarks
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Abstract
While the years of New Labour have been sometimes characterised as a golden age for culture, the first decade of the 21st century was a difficult time for heritage. Political policy and practice was at best indifferent and at worst hostile to the idea of English history and heritage. In this controversial lecture, Simon Thurley, who was at the helm of English Heritage through the period, looks back at what went wrong and assesses the future of the nation’s heritage.
About Dr Simon Thurley
Dr Simon Thurley is a leading architectural historian, a regular broadcaster on television and radio and the Chief Executive of English Heritage; the Government's principal advisor on the historic environment in England.
About the Madingley Lectures
The Madingley Lectures take place at Madingley Hall, home of the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education (ICE). This lecture series, given by eminent speakers across a wide range of subjects, is an important part of ICE's commitment to public engagement.
View the full list of lectures
Related courses at the Institute of Continuing Education
ICE runs a number of accredited programmes which touch on various aspects of heritage:
- Certificate in Archaeology I
- Certificate in Historic Environment I
- Certificate in History of Art
- Certificate of Higher Education in Historic Building Conservation