8 C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 IHBC conference reports IHBC North West Branch Conference Access to the historic environment: mind, body and soul The IHBC North-West Branch held its annual conference at the Manchester City Art Gallery, recently extended by Michael Hopkins and Partners with grant from the HLF. The conference dealt with matters of access – not just physical constraints but wider aspects as well. Intellectual barriers can limit access. Social and cultural barriers can exist alongside financial ones. Organisational barriers, such as sparse information, can limit enjoyment. The conference explored ways in which doors could be opened to allow wider appreciation of the historic environment. The chair was Dr Stella Butler, head of special collections and principal keeper of the John Rylands University Library, which is in the middle of a programme for improving all forms of access to its facilities. Peter Howard, professor of cultural landscape at Bournemouth University and editor of the International Journal of Heritage Studies, set the context for the day and provided an intellectual challenge to perceptions of heritage. Interestingly, one of the best books on access and inclusion was written many years ago: How to Run a Stately Home. The Duke of Bedford realised that the public was drawn more toWoburn by the freedoms arising from the motorcar rather than by his paintings. Landscape perception was not just one of vision, Howard said. Sound, smell, touch and taste were often more powerful triggers for emotional reaction. Visual perception of landscape for excitement was based on the concept of hide-and-seek, and the stimulation of contrasting verticals rather than horizontals. Age groups and nationalities perceive their heritage differently. The experiences of a ten-year-old constitute ‘normality’, and change is referenced back to perceptions at that time. The Germans are obsessed by springs, forests and river sources, while the French prefer cathedrals. Insiders have different perceptions from visitors. The web of daily life of people, places and events predominate; insider secrets define the group. Cultural preferences can change rapidly – Dartmoor as a landscape type was identified in the 1870s, the Cotswolds in the 1920s. Lisa Foster, discussing ‘Physical access: creative solutions for historic properties’, developed a thought-provoking theme by looking at Swedish examples and an approach based on considerate accessibility. In many ways Britain is more advanced – for instance meeting the needs of disability at the Royal Academy has been the stimulus for creating a pleasant urban space for all users. By contrast the Riddarhoust Museum in Stockholm uses a simple utilitarian handrail on the front elevation and a staircase lift on the rear elevation. It may be an honest approach but it is not integrated. Access is provided but feels segregated. In examples where physical access could not be provided, information was variously provided by tactile model, Braille, audio cassette and high-quality video to meet the needs of diverse groups in accessible parts of the complexes. Foster’s talk continued with a brief review of the Disability Discrimination Act. Private clubs are to be included in the Code of Practice needs to be tightened up to reflect the new Part M, which is only concerned with access and not evacuation. Three case studies looked at the intellectual, educational and citizenship aspects of access. Karl Creaser, regional policy officer of English Heritage, examined the particular challenges of historic houses in the NorthWest. He focused on themes or issues to attract and assist target audiences in which avoidance of information overload was the key. Studies of managerial, organisational and physical access were supported by the HLF. Dilys Horwich, education officer with English Heritage NorthWest, cited citizenship studies in Liverpool. The urban regeneration of the Ropewalks area – combining warehouse and domestic properties – provided studies of past, present and future for Key Stages 1 and 2 for History and Citizenship Studies. For the 7–8 year olds there was concentration on the physical fabric and, through drama, empathy for past living. For the 10–11 year olds the themes were developed to include professionals, community groups and decision-making processes. Rob Bracewell, the access officer for Lancaster City Council, promoted the need for inclusion in the historic environment of the wheelchair and pram user. Historic buildings needed to be made relevant for their time. Even William Morris pointed out ‘every change whatever it destroyed left history in the gap’. Today’s need is to cater for social diversity while maintaining historical significance. In Lancaster, Bracewell works as part of a coordinated forward planning team working to ensure that accessibility issues are incorporated at the instigation of projects such as THI, public arts and transport schemes. He views accessibility as a pathway of change where the use of buildings can be augmented, and their survival can be assured for all. After lunch there were walking tours of Manchester Art Gallery, Ancoats, Exchange Square and the Triangle, and Manchester Town Hall, which variously illustrated issues of cultural, intellectual, organisational and physical access. Afterwards, Diana Terry and Alison Kershaw of the Victoria Baths Trust explained the activities behind the Victoria Baths project in Manchester, which won the BBC Restoration in amendments published in May 2004. In the revisions to Part M of the Building Regulations the needs of historic buildings are recognised. Access statements need to be completed and kept updated to provide documentation for any inquiry by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). It is a common misconception among agents that a refusal of listed building consent is required to protect the client from such an inquiry. This is not the case. The issue needs to be examined through the access statement with the corresponding evidence. Guidance
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