12 C O N T E X T 1 2 0 : J U LY 2 0 1 1 ism Locali ocalism Localism L lism Localism Localism ocalism Localism Loca ism Localism Localism Localism Localism Loc alism Localism Localism ANNETTE REEVES Layers of localism in Berwick-upon-Tweed The 900-year-old border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed has been the focus for historic conservation area schemes based on local communities and in education. Berwick-upon-Tweed is a unique place. An historic walled town in the far north-east corner of England at the mouth of the riverTweed, it sits on an elevated peninsula in a dramatic coastal setting. With surviving medieval layout, '"" years of bridge building, refined domestic and civic architecture, and outstanding military engineering, it has considerable animated variety, atmosphere, quality and sense of place. Recognised for its nationally important buildings, landscape and monuments, the often-referred-to ‘jewel in Northumberland’s crown’ has been studied and documented by numerous academics, historians and artists alike, all drawn to the complexities of its #""-yearold past. Nikolaus Pevsner described it as ‘one of the most exciting towns in England, a real town, with the strongest sense of enclosure’. It certainly is a real town, with real people who care passionately about its historic legacy, and also about the provision of local jobs, affordable homes, an ageing population and a struggling tourist economy. The succession of defences and circuit of stone walls, first laid down by Edward I in !&#, and later subsumed within the magnificent Elizabethan ramparts, continue to bestow a muscular embrace around the town today.The walls do not signify a barrier to change or delineate a boundary for heritage assets to be preserved in aspic, but they do present challenges if Berwick is to move forward and grow.The &!st century presents a struggle that requires intervention and concerted action. Like many border towns, Berwick has tremendous development and tourist potential but underperforms economically. Its built heritage is recognised as a valuable asset but requires investment. The strategic planning process has identified a ‘need’ for an area-based regeneration programme and overall vision that looks to the future in order to deliver the economic transformation that is so desperately required. Nothing new here, but how Berwick is going about this through local action, partnership working and increased involvement of its people is of interest, especially since we have official terminology for such an approach: the Big Society and localism. Berwick’s Future Partnership was formed in &""(. The borough council (now Northumberland County Council), English Heritage, the regional development agency One NorthEast, the community development trust, local strategic partnership and town council commissioned and published a master plan that extended its remit beyond the town walls. The master plan and subsequent regeneration strategy set out the vision, opportunities and aspirations for both physical and social improvements to be delivered over Berwick-upon-Tweed: ‘one of the most exciting towns in England, a real town, with the strongest sense of enclosure,’ according to Pevsner.
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