Going Down In History

Being listed as a World Heritage Site opens the door to a wealth of opportunity, as PETER NALDRETT discovers in the historic city of Bath.

- Peter Naldrett

IT’S now 30 years since the recommendation was first made to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) that Bath should be a World Heritage Site. The two-page document presented in 1987 justified the city’s valuable historical importance, describing how Aquae Sulis was built 20 years after the Romans came to these shores and excavations started in earnest in the Victorian era.

The report, submitted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, recommends the wider city be placed on the list of World Heritage Sites, drawing attention to the significance of Queen Square, Royal Circus, Royal Crescent, Prior Park and Pulteney Bridge. The application to add Bath to the elite list was approved.

Tony Crouch is the City of Bath World Heritage Site manager, and when I chatted to him I was surprised to learn that being placed on the all-important list does not see a funding increase or planning protection enhanced.

“Being a World Heritage Site means everything and nothing,” he told me. “It’s a designation and it depends on what you do with it; there will be no immediate or overnight changes but it can be very important for tourism and boosting the image of the area. The sites in Bath were already protected as listed buildings, but being placed on the World Heritage Site list tells people that we’re up there with the best in the world.”