‘We tell the story of England'

The chief executive of English Heritage on charity status, education and a broader view

- John Goodall

THE sun is out and Dover Castle has opened its gates once again to visitors. Across the glittering sea, the coast of France is clearly visible. It’s hard to imagine a happier place to interview the chief executive of English Heritage (EH). The castle not only speaks of the importance of what the organisation cares for, but—as a working fortification from prehistory to the nuclear age—is vividly representative of the historical scope of its responsibilities.

At the heart of the castle is the pharos or lighthouse, the tallest standing Roman building in Britain. ‘I love it,’ says Kate Mavor. ‘It is an icon of continuity; it has seen everything from the Norman Conquest to the Second World War.’

For the interview, we retreat into the great keep of the castle. Its main interiors are dressed as they might have appeared in the 12th century and we settle on a bench in the throne room. Miss Mavor immediately plunges into the role of the organisation she runs. ‘We tell the story of England —6,000 years of history. We look after it and bring it to life.’

These undertakings, she insists, are inseparable. ‘People will only preserve things if they understand them. We have to explain, therefore, why things matter. One of our purposes in this regard is to conserve things to help people understand their own history.’

Miss Mavor’s path to EH began early. ‘I have always been interested in history and was taken to historic sites when I was a child. When I had young children, I went visiting with them, in turn. The diversity of visitors and the different ways they engage with historic places is something we have to be aware of and cater for.’