Seaside Heritage Matters
Three out of four people love the English seaside because of historic buildings.
English Heritage publishes report to highlight value of heritage in regeneration.
Summer is over, the crowds are gone but the picture of English coastal towns in 2007 is by no means bleak.
A recent poll conducted by English Heritage reveals that historic buildings appeal to modern visitors as much as they did when they were first built. Three-quarters (77%) of the 1,003 interviewees agreed that “the historic character of seaside towns is what makes them beautiful and enjoyable”. Two-thirds agreed that “seaside towns hold a special place in my heart”, and “seaside holidays and seaside towns are at the centre of our national identity”. But three-quarters (76%) agreed that “many seaside towns are shabby and run down. The government should invest more to preserve what is distinctive and valuable there”.
These results are published to coincide with a two-day conference on England’s seaside resorts, their heritage and its role in regeneration, to be held in Hastings today and tomorrow (16-17 October 2007).
They also echo a report published by English Heritage which show how heritage can be a dynamic resource for regeneration. Regeneration in Historic Coastal Towns highlights 15 examples across England where historic assets like hotels, fishermen’s huts and harbours are acting as a catalyst for successful regeneration and economic diversification (Details of these examples are available from www.helm.org.uk/coastaltowns.)
The fifteen examples are Margate, Whitstable, Hastings, Folkestone, Whitehaven, Morecambe, St Anne’s On Sea, Seaham and Hartlepool, Whitby and Scarborough, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Southend-on-Sea, Weymouth, Falmouth, and Hayle.
Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: “Investing in the historic core of seaside towns is the essential first step in revitalising communities and giving residents a home with a soul. From fishing alleys to Victorian boulevards, from old docks and harbours to historic spas, we have lots of evidence to show that people and businesses flourish in places where local character and distinctiveness are being revived, often through physical renewal and reuse of historic buildings.
“It is clear that seaside towns need to adapt and evolve. The historic environment should be recognised as an integral part of the search for a strengthened identity and a better future. It is what makes them loved, welcoming and unique in the first place, and provides a natural economic, geographic and civic focus for their regeneration.”
The 15 examples are chosen to demonstrate the different ways in which heritage can contribute to the regeneration of seaside towns. Historic buildings can be reused and adapted to meet contemporary and community needs; they provide a unique selling point to attract visitors and businesses; the historic fabric of a place can often serve as a driver for developing creative industries and cultural tourism; historic landmarks have immense potential for imaginative marketing of the town; the history of a place and its many associations can inject energy into the search for a new identity; and restoration projects often offer opportunities for developing education and skills programmes for the community.
But the report also points out that high maintenance cost is among the many factors hindering physical renewal of historic architecture and threatening its survival. Weathering is often more pronounced in coastal towns where buildings face salt-laden winds, making the cycle for maintenance shorter and therefore more expensive. In places where the housing market is not strong, large quantities of Georgian and Victorian housing stock ageing at the same rate can leave private owners and local authorities with a backlog of urgent repairs to fund.
New developments within historic coastal settings are also often a difficult issue. Many coastal towns contain some of Britain’s finest pieces of Georgian, Victorian and Inter-war architecture and examples of planned townscapes. Local authorities have to make difficult judgments about developments and infrastructure projects which can bring economic benefits but may compromise the townscape or local distinctiveness and character.
Long-term decline in some areas has also created negative images of many coastal towns. These can be deeply entrenched in the public’s perception and challenging to reverse. Poor upkeep can leave the built heritage unappreciated by visitors, undervalued by investors and potentially seen as a burden by local authorities.
The report also calls for a broader vision and national policies to tackle common issues faced by seaside towns, such as a high degree of social deprivation, a lack of good marketing and visitor offers, poor access and an ageing population.
Regeneration in Historic Coastal Towns is downloadable from our sister website
www.helm.org.uk/coastaltowns
Our new publication England’s Seaside Resorts is available from the
English Heritage Online Shop or 0870 333 1181 shortly.
Details on the conference can be found at
www.english-heritage.org.uk/seasideheritage
More information on our Seaside Resorts Project can be found at
www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.8340
The opinion poll on attitudes to the historic environment was part of an omnibus interview conducted by BDRC on behalf of English Heritage. 1,003 interviews were conducted.
For further press information please contact
Renee Fok, English Heritage Corporate Communications
020 7973 3297 / 07801 839 852
renee.fok@english-heritage.org.uk
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