Valuing Historic Environments

Lisanne Gibson, Lecturer, Department of Museum Studies, University of Leicester, UK and John Pendlebury, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, UK

'This timely book, edited by two of the leading scholars in the field, addresses the key issue in environmental heritage management: how can we both recognise the value of the multiple constructed meanings and take preservation decisions in the real world which will almost inevitably privilege some meanings over others? And how, in the midst of this, can heritage managers avoid becoming 'government poodles'? This is a richly detailed, thought-provoking book; buy it, and read it.' Sue Pearce, University of Leicester, UK 'A galaxy of respected and challenging authors addresses the contexts of museum stewardship, the country house, seaside resort, heritage housing and cultural landscape in the UK and beyond. The focus of place as the site for multiple narratives of identity and history emerges convincingly. Not an easy passage, but definitely among my top titles for any new secretary of state or minister for culture to read.' British Archaeology 'Given the dearth of academic journals publishing research in heritage conservation management, books like this one fill an important niche.' Architectural Science Review 'This collection of ten, wide-ranging essays explores various aspects of heritage, and more specifically, conundrums in heritage management in contemporary, culturally pluralist communities. With topics as diverse as street art and graffiti, social housing, monuments, seaside resorts and the Country House (capital letters mandatory!), this collection presents many thought-provoking and fresh concepts and approaches to heritage.' Museum and Society 'Valuing Historic Environments offers a number of interesting insights into how "heritage" as a construct comes to be identified and how its conservation is affected by a selective approach to it as "assets".' Context 'The strength of Valuing Historic Environments is in the willingness of its experienced authors to provide a current, informed audit of heritage concepts and processes, and to address their implications across a range of contemporary cultural landscapes and built environments...a timely reference-volume on a challenging and relevant topic.' Museums Australia Magazine 'The ideas contained within the essays reflect the academic debate swirling around the conservation profession. For the urban historian, the main interest of the book may lie in the discussion of evolving views of what is regarded as the historic environment and of the uses made of heritage for purposes of identity and promotion. It can be recommended as an excellent and stimulating account of the latest thinking on the subject.' Urban History 'Gibson and Pendlebury remind us that heritage management practices are indeed a balancing act. Processes must be democratic and all values, whether they are social, cultural or historical, must be respected equally.' Journal of Heritage Tourism 'This is a highly accessible and interesting array of chapters each with some particular usefulness including some sound and interesting empirical work...This volume will be useful not only to those in the field but also to those on the disciplinary periphery with many of its examples and analyses relevant to other areas of study such as social geography, cultural studies, social history and sociology.' International Journal of Cultural Policy

• Contents: Introduction: valuing historic environments, Lisanne Gibson and John Pendlebury; Part I Values and Heritage Stewardship: Patrons, populists, apologists: crises in museum stewardship, David Lowenthal; Deference and humility: the social values of the country house, Laurajane Smith; Historic landscapes and the recent past: whose history?, Peter Howard. Part II Cultural Landscapes: Cultural landscapes and identity, Lisanne Gibson; Being autocentric: towards symmetry in heritage management practices, John Schofield; Reputation and regeneration: history and the heritage of the recent past in the re-making of Blackpool, John K. Walton and Jason Wood; Values not shared: the street art of Melbourne's city laneways, Tracey Avery. Part III The Heritage of Housing: The Georgian house: the making of a heritage icon, Peter Borsay; Social housing as heritage: the case of Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, John Pendlebury, Tim Townshend and Rose Gilroy; Whose housing heritage?, Peter Malpass; Index.