W[a][o]ndering About the World Heritage Centre

Date: 08 August 2011 12:21:04

I was in that zone on Friday, you know the one where you wander to think. The place I happened to be wandering was Palace Green in Durham - which just happens to be a world heritage centre.

First I wandered around the cloisters of the cathedral a little, trying to soak up something of the atmosphere. I was struck by how small changes in terms of access seem to be appearing. Being the "tourist season" the cathedral is opening later but there seem to be more little side bits opening too.

Then it was onto the Palace Green library where the university have torn out the computers and started on a major revamp which is described on the Tomorrows Yesterdays page. I popped upstairs to quietly wander around in the Treasures of Durham University exhibition. I was hoping wandering around a bunch of first editions would make me get some inspiration, it didn't but I felt chilled there. For me museums and art galleries where you just wander around in space are really spiritual places.

As I was wandering home to do some reading, having had the thinking space, I spotted a new addition to the area - a new World Heritage Site Visitors Centre. I popped in and it seemed a nice enough place - and yes I use that word "nice" intentionally. What struck me though was the link between its opening and another local news story - the closing of the local tourist information centre, (see this article).

If, as seems likely the council do close the local tourist information centre that puts a responsiblilty on the university and the cathedral, as far as I see it. Their centre will become the information centre for the whole city / area and rather than just one rack of other people's leaflets they will need to do a job with a much wider remit than just directing people towards their own treasures. The question is are they willing to do this? Have the council wielded the axe after consultation with the cathedral and university or are they taking a risk on the uni and church doing the right thing?

I ask the questions because in Durham the divide between the Cathedral / Uni and the rest of the world is a wide one. Town and gown do not easily mix and if this is another example of the town being kicked whilst the cathedral and uni benefit - protecting themselves and their interests against others in an elite little bubble I am angry. However, if the uni and particularly the church are intending to act and to step in and help the towns people as they lose their amenity I am pleased. The new heritage centre actually has more character than the tourist information centre.

I actually think the ideal would be if the council could become a partner with the uni and cathedral and develop this into a "Durham, World Heritage Site and Tourist City Centre".