12 C O N T E X T 1 1 9 : M A Y 2 0 1 1 IHBC North West branch conference Understanding significance The IHBC NorthWest branch conference on Understanding Significance began by looking at Conservation Principles and PPS5. Steven Bee (then of English Heritage) discussed defining our terms and being consistent, and how the terms were vital in managing places and avoiding future objections. Significance is ‘the value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. That interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic’ (PPS5). Although PPS5 focuses on significance, other terms are in use, such as ‘importance, values and interests.We needed to ask ourselves two questions: whose values were we discussing? And to whom was the heritage asset significant? The importance and interest of an asset was commonly derived from professional opinion, whereas we needed to establish a wider recognition of historic significance, that is, a ‘community of interest’. DerekWorthing of the University of theWest of England spoke about different approaches to assessing cultural significance. He said that assessing heritage values was very important, since these values heavily influenced and shaped the decisions that were made. If a place was to be protected and managed, it was vital to assess its significance through a rigorous, transparent and objective process.The first stage was the conservation plan, which spelt out why the place was important.The second stage was the management plan, which underlined the need to engage with the institutions and the people working on a building. Professionals should not be telling people what was significant; they should ask and find out. Different people have different perspectives. One example that illustrated the complexities in establishing social values was Berlin City Palace.This was heavily damaged in the second world war, demolished in 1950 and replaced in the 1970s in what was then East Berlin by the modernist People’s Palace. After German reunification, the People’s Palace was demolished and replaced by a replica of the previous palace, despite protests from some former East Germans.The fact that their views were overruled had left them feeling disenfranchised. The morning then focused on understanding significance in practice. Marion Barter of the Architectural History Practice explained that significance should not be assessed in isolation.The bigger picture was needed. English Heritage’s Conservation Principles provided the context, and defined how the relationship between one place and other places could be intellectual. Barter cited Brammall Hall as an example. It was originally a timberframed courtyard building, dating from the 15th century.When the hall was remodelled in the 19th century, speculative features were added, which are now regarded as being very significant.These include an octagonal bay copied from a surviving original at Little Moreton Hall. Barton provided some tips for assessing significance. First, research the evolution of the building or place. Second, understand all the factors that shaped the place.Third, use comparative analysis and look for similar examples – locally, regionally or nationally. Finally, use a hierarchy to assess the place in comparison with other examples. Consultant Christopher Pound focused on philosophical issues. If we looked at Bath, for example, much of the significance depended on buildings, activities and history now gone. During the Enlightenment, ideas about the landscape changed. People began to see landscape as pictures or scenery. They saw beauty and place as the work of God, although industrial landscapes were not viewed in this light.This thinking has passed down through the generations in Europe and the UK. Stephen Dean, a Staffordshire county archaeologist, talked about assessing the significance of the Staffordshire Hoard, which was certainly significant in terms of archaeological interest (PPS5), and possibly also in terms of artistic and historic interest.The site had been identified as a single deposition site: 3,940 artefacts had been found.The find had captured the imagination of the general public, as evidenced by the £3.2 million that was raised in a period between January and April, and the record attendance levels when the hoard was put on display. So that delegates could assess significance in the flesh, there were three walking tours: the Metropolitan (Roman Catholic) Cathedral (assessing the levels of significance of the remains of the workhouse, the Lutyens crypt and the Gibberd cathedral); Pembroke Place (see below); and the Crown Street area (assessing the significance of the early railway structures). The afternoon ended with case study presentations. Ian Bond ofWest Lancashire Borough Council discussed how local planning authorities’ resources needed to be front-loaded into the pre-application discussions, since they provided the best opportunity to identify the likely impact of development proposals and to influence them. Frontloading was more efficient than trying to influence proposals later in the process, but it was resource-greedy. Garry Miller, an architectural historian, focused on a group of 18th century buildings in Pembroke Place that formed the last surviving fragments of court buildings in Liverpool. Miller explained that there had been a series of inspections of the buildings, and a request for spot listing was submitted by the head of planning in 2005.Two years later it was decided that one of the buildings would be listed, but the requests relating to the other buildings were rejected.The head of planning appealed and the properties were re-inspected by English Heritage. It was announced in 2009 that three more buildings would be listed. In the question and answer session, delegates expressed the view that guidance should identify the ‘norm’ for a heritage impact statement, rather than prescribe a one-size-fits-all model. The purpose of identifying significance was not to inhibit development, but to inform the process.The key was the quality of reasoning in deciding what should be done with significance. See the IHBC NW branch web page for a more detailed report of the conference. Keith Parsons, principal lecturer, University of Central Lancashire
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