Valuing Heritage

Heritage is what people value and wish to pass on to future generations. It is what justifies the legislation, the funding and the practice of conservation. The summer school will look at how citizens and communities can become more engaged in caring for the historic environment, and how the value of heritage can thus be enhanced.

In 2008 Liverpool will be the European Capital of Culture. This year is the 800th anniversary of the city’s Royal Charter. Much of the waterfront and the city is experiencing tremendous change and re-establishing itself as one of the world’s great maritime cities.

‘The scale and resilience of the buildings and people of Liverpool is amazing – it is a world city…The city is tremendous’. (Ian Nairn, Britain’s Changing Towns, 1967). In 2004, Liverpool’s historic environment received the ultimate heritage accolade when Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City was inscribed onto UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Residential delegates will stay at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel, located within a short walk of Lime Street Station. This is Liverpool’s most famous and cherished hotel.

On Thursday evening a welcome reception will be held in the Port of Liverpool Building, one of the three great Edwardian waterfront commercial buildings at the Pier Head.

The Friday School takes place at St George’s Hall, recently refurbished to its magnificent best. This building above all others epitomizes the economic wealth and cultural standing of the city in the 19th century. In the evening, Lutyens’ sublime Crypt of the Liverpool Metropolitan Catholic Cathedral is the venue for the conference dinner.

Saturday morning will be based at the Liverpool Medical Institute and in the afternoon there will be a diverse range of accompanied tours (some walking, some by bus)