Heritage! The Battle for Britain's Past... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Where for the future...

This evening's show on BBC Four:

Broken Propylaeums

Watch now7 DAYS LEFT

Episode 3 of 3

The final episode follows the changing fortunes of a heritage movement floored by the after effects of World War II and looks at how people like Sir John Betjeman and Dan Cruickshank gave families access to heritage and architecture on television from the comfort of their living rooms. 

It looks at the preservation of sometimes ugly, certainly unpleasant parts of our built past such as workhouses and underground mineshafts, and contemplates what the future may hold for heritage in Britain - a nation faced with economic uncertainty, depleting resources and increasing challenges of sustainability. 

BBC Four - Heritage! The Battle for Britain's Past, Broken Propylaeums

HERITAGE! ON BBC FOUR

... A new television series tells the story of the movement to protect Britain's heritage, from its early days in the 19th century right through to today. Made in partnership with English Heritage, Heritage! The Battle for Britain's Past is a three-part series on BBC Four.

Heritage! on BBC Four | English Heritage

HERITAGE CENTENARY

This year, 2013, is the centenary of a landmark moment for England’s heritage. The Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendments Act of 1913 recognised for the first time that there are physical remains of the nation’s history which are so special that the state has a duty to protect them.

English Heritage’s origins stretch back to this Act which effectively established the National Heritage Collection and created many of the powers used to safeguard the country’s unique legacy of historic buildings, monuments and landscapes. In this part of our website, you can find out more about the Act and how we are celebrating its anniversary.

Heritage Centenary | English Heritage

THE HERITAGE CENTENARY DEBATE

16 September 2013

As part of the programme of events to mark the centenary of the 1913 Ancient Monuments Act, a special public debate asked what the future holds for our past.

"Heritage isn't really about the past. It's about the future. And it's about what bits of the past you want to take with you into the future." 
Simon Thurley, Chief Executive, English Heritage 

The Future Care of Our Nation's Heritage: A Debate was held at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in London on the evening of Monday 16 September 2013. Speakers included Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage; Simon Jenkins, Chair of the National Trust; cultural commentator Stephen Bayley; historian Robert Hewison; and John Howell MP.

You can now watch that debate online.

Heritage Past, Present and Future

The debate was part of a special two-day conference exploring how heritage has been protected in the past and how it will be protected in the future. The conference looked at the early years of heritage protection and how the definition of heritage has changed over the last 100 years, examined who decides what deserves to be protected, and looked ahead to the challenges heritage may face in the future.

Heritage Past, Present and Future was jointly organised by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, English Heritage, the National Trust, and the Society of Antiquaries of London.

The conference proceedings will be made available in due course.

The Heritage Centenary Debate | English Heritage
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