Heritage and Civic Pride: Voices From Levelling Up Country
Public First has published a report on heritage and civic pride.
They first conducted a Levelling Up poll in autumn 2021 which found that people saw historic buildings and industrial heritage as central to their sense of civic pride. Historic England asked Public First to explore this aspect further through a qualitative research exercise to test public opinion in priority areas for levelling up on the role of historic buildings, industrial heritage and historic parks in fostering civic pride.
Findings
A summary of the report is below but there is much value in reading the quotes of the people who were part of the conversation. For example:
I’d just say personally [industrial heritage] is part of the culture of the area. And I relate to that as part of my identity, because that’s where I’m from. So to me, the history feeds into the culture and the culture feeds into identity.
Warehouse worker, Stoke-on-Trent
Summary:
- Town centres and landmark historic buildings make people’s sense of local pride in place tangible.
- When these buildings are allowed to fall into disrepair – and the feeling is that many have – it is synonymous with their dented civic pride.
- There is a very strong desire to protect town/city-centre historic buildings – especially familiar streetscapes – and an instinctive understanding that their rejuvenation could play a big part in the rejuvenation of their towns.
- Pragmatism wins out; conservation must not be at the expense of the local economy – the need for compromises is widely understood.
- Industrial heritage – meaning the legacy of the workplaces of people’s forebears - is central to local pride in place.
- Buildings themselves are only part of the story. The way that industrial heritage connects to local pride is also about local story-telling and family history and folklore; connecting with the work that their children’s grandparents and great grandparents did.
