Making history

IN OCTOBER'S PUBLIC INQUIRY into the fate of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, it became clear the inspector was having to decide between two entirely discrepant views of the ways to preserve historic buildings. On one side were those I regard as the anti-sentimentalists. These take the view that once the historic use of a building has come to an end, the only thing that is worth preserving is the historic fabric of the building. To them, it is healthy to allow the building to move into a new era as a café, bar or the lobby of a hotel: what is important is the residue of the original use as expressed archeologically through the exterior structure and ground plan of the building, but not their content or activity. This is the view that has been taken by Historic England at Whitechapel: narrowly preservationist, concerned with a legalistic requirement to protect the fabric of a building, not its use.

On the other side are the historic archaeologists. They feel the interest of a building only goes so far in terms of an understanding and appreciation of its door jambs. What is important about historic buildings is the way in which they allow and encourage a better understanding of life in the past. This is what led in the 1970s to a big movement for the preservation of industrial architecture, including so much of Ironbridge.

This is why historic railways have always been so