Heritage: A History of How We Conserve Our Past

Such a good book - highly recommended!

James Stourton’s ‘Heritage’ is vital and a much needed awakening. His last paragraph says it all. ‘ we must remain vigilant and hold government to account at both local and national level. Every landscape and townscape is precious. Heritage is a wealth that belongs to us all,’the commons’ that should be shared and enjoyed by everyone, including those who come after us.’

A very complete and thorough history of conservation and attitudes to historic buildings and places, from the pioneers of the nineteenth and early twentieth century to the major heritage industry of the present day. Everything seems to be covered - the rise of the National Trust as an owner of historic houses, the pioneering civic work in York, the disastrous 'Sack of Bath', preserved canals and railways, the dubious results of 1980s development in London Docklands, and finally the rise of social media. It's all discussed intelligently and wisely. If you want to know about the rise of conservation and 'heritage' the book is essential.Full disclosure: I took the author round my area for a day and a book of mine is in the bibliography.