World Heritage Cathedrals and Abbeys webinar # 3

Number 3 in a series of 4 webinar talks, on the UK’s World Heritage Cathedrals and Abbeys – Tuesday 19th November 2024.

World Heritage Site: Durham Cathedral, as part of Durham Castle & Cathedral WHS.

Title: Public history and world heritage: a case study from Durham Castle and Cathedral WHS

Durham Castle and Cathedral is not primarily a visitor attraction. It is a living and work church, a choral school, a university college residence and a training college for vicars. It has museums, libraries, laboratories and lecture theatres. It is an archaeological site as well as an architectural marvel. Many more people come here to enjoy the riverside walks and open spaces than to go inside its buildings. As such it serves many publics. This paper considers how public history theory and practice is informing new approaches to promoting, engaging and interpreting world heritage here for all. The paper will consider new and recent projects, including:

(i) Durham’s origins – the search for the white church
(ii) Durham Castle – engaging students to ‘repair and care’ for the Norman chapel
(iii) Retelling stories through the Youth Ambassadors Voices audio history project

(iv) Among (many) other things Charlie was instrumental in the establishment of the Northern Saints Trails, the ongoing development of Camino Ingles and keeping alive the traditions of St Cuthbert’s Day and celebrating Bede (linked to OUV statements 4, 5 and 8)

Speakers: Dr. Anne Allen and The Revd Canon Charlie Allen

Anne moved from managing the Heritage Action Zone in Bishop Auckland to lead and serve Durham’s World Heritage Site Partnership in 2023. She is not new to Durham. She started as an undergraduate in 1986 – the year the World Heritage Site was inscribed. After 10 years in archaeology she went into higher education administration at Newcastle University. Anne worked in museum management at The Bowes Museum and then ran a regional consultancy and project management business before coming back to Durham. She’s worked in fundraising, served on University Council and project-managed the construction of the newest building on the World Heritage Site as Deputy Principal of St John’s College.

Charlie is Canon Chancellor at Durham Cathedral and Chair of Durham’s World Heritage Site Strategic Partnership Board. Her duties centre on public engagement between the cathedral and the wider community. She leads on Christian stewardship, welcome and pastoral care for all those who visit and worship at the cathedral. Prior to arriving at Durham in summer 2018, she held a post in the Diocese of Salisbury as Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Coordinator for Initial Ministerial Education. Charlie grew up in Sunderland, and studied at Durham University as an undergraduate, ahead of training for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge.

7 to 8pm, on Zoom. Zoom details usually sent out latest the day before the webinar.

Each webinar is recorded and uploaded to WHUK’s private YouTube channel. All ticket holders will be sent a link to the video, to revisit or catch up if the live talk was missed.

More details on this webinar to follow.

• Tuesday 17^th September – Canterbury Cathedral, as part of Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey, and St Martin’s Church WHS (YouTube recording).
• Tuesday 15^th October – Westminster Abbey, as part of Palace of Westminster & Westminster Abbey including St Margaret’s Church WHS (YouTube recording).
• Tuesday 17^th December – Bath Abbey, as part of City of Bath WHS.

Image: Graeme Peacock