Extending boundary of cultural heritage (From The Northern Echo)

Extending boundary of cultural heritage

7:56am Friday 5th September 2008 in

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ONE of the region’s most important historic sites has been extended to reflect its global significance.

The World Heritage Site in Durham City, which includes the cathedral and castle, will now encompass Palace Green, which links the two monuments and some of the ancient buildings surrounding it.

A recommendation by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) has been approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage Committee.

Palace Green, the area between the castle and the cathedral, is owned by Durham University.

The World Heritage Site extension will include the buildings that surround Palace Green, which mostly date from the 17th and 18th Centuries.

The oldest is the15th Century Exchequer House, which is now part of the university’s Palace Green library.

The extension also includes several houses built between the 15th and 19th Centuries in Owengate, Saddler Street, North Bailey and Dun Cow Lane.

A former almshouse in Owengate is earmarked to become the first Durham World Heritage Site visitor centre.

The original World Heritage Site title was given to the city in 1986 to protect Durham Cathedral and its immediate surrounds, the annex of the south-west access path, including the bridge over the River Wear, and Durham Castle, but it left out Palace Green because it was not considered as important.

Icomos said that extending the boundary would make the site continuous, strengthen its significance and make management simpler and more coherent.

In its report, the international council said: “The new boundaries would more fully represent the historical significance of the property, and enable a better understanding of its urban landscape.”

University vice-chancellor Professor Chris Higgins said yesterday: “Durham University is the only university in the world that can say its community owns, lives and works in a World Heritage Site.

“This is further recognition for the outstanding site at Palace Green, which is a centre point of Durham and Durham University and is already enjoyed by many members of the public.

“We always knew that all this space was of global importance, but it is extremely satisfying for us to have this formally confirmed by international experts.”

Canon Rosalind Brown, chairwoman of the World Heritage Site co-ordinating committee, said “The inclusion in the World Heritage Site of Palace Green, which links the cathedral and the castle, enables us to take a cohesive approach to the care and enhancement of this wonderful site. This is very good news.”