Cambridge as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

[Golan Trevize]

Saltaire - a moderately interesting example of Victorian industrial town planning, but hardly of earth-shattering importance in the overall scheme of things - is on the list. A bunch of disused Cornish tin mines is on the list.

How come, then, that the academic home of Bacon, Newton, Darwin, Rutherford, Keynes et al. is not only not on the list, but not even on the "tentative list" of candidates for addition to the list?

Whom would one contact to remedy this glaring omission?

[Paul Hardy]

Golan Trevize <padd...@gmail.com>
...

> How come, then, that the academic home of Bacon, Newton, Darwin,
> Rutherford, Keynes et al. is not only not on the list, but not even on
> the "tentative list" of candidates for addition to the list?
> Whom would one contact to remedy this glaring omission?

The story I heard some years ago, was that Cambridgeshire county council
wanted to apply for world heritage status for Cambridge to attract more
tourists, but the City council and the University vetoed it, on the grounds
that more tourists and the 'theme park' function would interfere with the
primary role of the place as a working University.

Regards


--
Paul at the paulhardy.net domain

[Paul Bird]

We've got enough coaches, tourists and cars as it is during the summer,
don't need more.

PB

[Roland Perry]

In message <ne2ohv$2bl$1...@dont-email.me>, at 11:34:44 on Wed, 6 Apr 2016,
Paul Bird <pa...@nospamcamtutor.co.uk> remarked:

>We've got enough coaches, tourists and cars as it is during the summer,
>don't need more.

This news item suggests it's the tourists who are putting of the
shoppers:

<http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge-footfall-drops-3-83-cent-
8211-twice-UK/story-29049196-detail/story.html>

Although it's hardly news - back in the early 70's as a student I didn't
leave college on a Saturday, unless absolutely necessary (eg to get a
pint of milk), on account of all the tourists.
--
Roland Perry

[rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk]

In article <pKjUhoD2...@perry.co.uk>, rol...@perry.co.uk (Roland Perry)
wrote:

Tourism and shopping are activities overlapping on a spectrum.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

[Tim Ward]

On 06/04/2016 21:43, rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:
>
> Tourism and shopping are activities overlapping on a spectrum.

Not according to those shopkeepers who complain that the tourist never
buy anything.

--
Tim Ward - 07801 703 600
www.brettward.co.uk

[rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk]

In article <ne3srj$ivr$1...@dont-email.me>, t...@brettward.co.uk (Tim Ward)
wrote:

> On 06/04/2016 21:43, rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:
> >
> > Tourism and shopping are activities overlapping on a spectrum.
>
> Not according to those shopkeepers who complain that the tourist
> never buy anything.

Silly people!

--
Colin Rosenstiel

[Golan Trevize]

On Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 8:45:49 AM UTC+1, Paul Hardy wrote:
> Golan Trevize

> ...
> > How come, then, that the academic home of Bacon, Newton, Darwin,
> > Rutherford, Keynes et al. is not only not on the list, but not even on
> > the "tentative list" of candidates for addition to the list?
> > Whom would one contact to remedy this glaring omission?
>
> The story I heard some years ago, was that Cambridgeshire county council
> wanted to apply for world heritage status for Cambridge to attract more
> tourists, but the City council and the University vetoed it, on the grounds
> that more tourists and the 'theme park' function would interfere with the
> primary role of the place as a working University.

That's interesting, I hadn't heard that.

Golan

[Golan Trevize]

On Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 12:31:13 PM UTC+1, Roland Perry wrote:
>
> Although it's hardly news - back in the early 70's as a student I didn't
> leave college on a Saturday, unless absolutely necessary (eg to get a
> pint of milk), on account of all the tourists.
> --
> Roland Perry

As a student with a room overlooking the river in the late 70's, there
was sometimes a lot of noise from punt traffic, and groups of (mostly
Japanese) tourists coming into college were sometimes annoying - but I
don't remember the town itself being anywhere near as frenetic on
Saturdays as it often is now. I spent most Saturday mornings looking
for second-hand Classical records at the stall in the market.

Golan

[Roland Perry]

In message <599c4bcb-2232-4d1b...@googlegroups.com>, at
02:34:03 on Thu, 7 Apr 2016, Golan Trevize <padd...@gmail.com>
remarked:

>> Although it's hardly news - back in the early 70's as a student I didn't
>> leave college on a Saturday, unless absolutely necessary (eg to get a
>> pint of milk), on account of all the tourists.
>

>As a student with a room overlooking the river in the late 70's, there
>was sometimes a lot of noise from punt traffic, and groups of (mostly
>Japanese) tourists coming into college were sometimes annoying - but I
>don't remember the town itself being anywhere near as frenetic on
>Saturdays as it often is now.

It's busier now, of course, but there are wider pavements in some
streets, as well as extended pedestrianisation, so the capacity has
grown too.
--
Roland Perry

[Michael Kilpatrick]

On 05/04/2016 23:28, Golan Trevize wrote:
> Saltaire - a moderately interesting example of Victorian industrial
> town planning, but hardly of earth-shattering importance in the
> overall scheme of things - is on the list. A bunch of disused
> Cornish tin mines is on the list.
>
> How come, then, that the academic home of Bacon, Newton, Darwin,
> Rutherford, Keynes et al. is not only not on the list, but not even
> on the "tentative list" of candidates for addition to the list?
>

Because so much today's Cambridge is a revolting, ugly mess that it
barely compensates for the "nice oldy-worldy bits".

Michael

[Tim Ward]

Dunno when this was, but when I had a say in it the city's tourism
policy was to "manage" tourism rather than "encourage" it.

[rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk]

In article <3UDzm4K1...@perry.co.uk>, rol...@perry.co.uk (Roland Perry)
wrote:

The biggest change on the river is the size of most of the tourist punts.
They are much wider and carry far more people with chauffeured punting that
is now so prevalent. Not long ago chauffeur punting didn't exist and fewer
tourists were willing to give it a go.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

[bob]

I've been to a number of UNESCO world heritage sites that are a lot less
appealing than Cambridge. I was particularly underwhelmed by La Chaux de
Fonds, for example.

Robin

[Roland Perry]

In message <nebgbp$tv8$1...@dont-email.me>, at 18:06:49 on Sat, 9 Apr 2016,
bob <rcp...@gmail.com> remarked:

Was the pattern of the streets not quite regular enough for you?
--
Roland Perry

[bob]

I can't say the layout of the town struck me as worthy of note, there are
plenty of similar examples around Europe. While I appreciate the town is
worthy of note for the industrial organisation and activity there, those
activities take place in pretty bland and generic buildings. It certainly
seems to me that Cambridge is far more significant both in terms of
cultural and historical significance and in terms of architecture.

Robin

[Jon Green]

On 05/04/2016 23:28, Golan Trevize wrote:

> Saltaire - a moderately interesting example of Victorian industrial town planning, but hardly of earth-shattering importance in the overall scheme of things - is on the list. A bunch of disused Cornish tin mines is on the list.

I'm glad about that. I'm rather fond of Saltaire. It's more than just
town planning: this was a whole community built from scratch, with a
bunch of rules that required people to be good neighbours. Even today,
people there like those rules broadly adhered to, and the atmosphere is
all the better for it. There's really only Bournville to compare to it,
as a philanthropist-built town.

And it's a very attractive place too, particularly when you can chill
out in the lovely parkland beside the Aire in the sunshine with a
sandwich from Salts Village Bakery of a lunchtime. No, I'm all for
Saltaire being on the World Heritage list.

I'd have been happy for Cambridge to be listed too, but since planners
seem to have abandoned controls on the hideous buildings (the station
developments; the stuff out of town from the Hills Road bridge; the
far-too-tall hotels on the Newmarket Road) being constructed now, I'm
starting to become a bit ashamed of the place. Outside of the historic
centre, it's starting to turn into Coventry.

Jon
--
Maintainer, soc.genealogy.britain FAQs: www.genealogy-britain.org.uk
*** WATCH OUT FOR THE SPAM BLOCK! ***
Replace 'deadspam' with 'green-lines' to reply in email!

[Roland Perry]

In message <W4ednbdKdObCjIDK...@brightview.co.uk>, at
19:33:02 on Sun, 24 Apr 2016, Jon Green <jo...@deadspam.com> remarked:

>it's starting to turn into Coventry

And God forbid we send you *there*.
--
Roland Perry

[Andy McC]

On Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 7:33:04 PM UTC+1, Jon Green wrote:
> On 05/04/2016 23:28, Golan Trevize wrote:
> > Saltaire - a moderately interesting example of Victorian industrial town planning, but hardly of earth-shattering importance in the overall scheme of things - is on the list. A bunch of disused Cornish tin mines is on the list.
>
> I'm glad about that. I'm rather fond of Saltaire. It's more than just
> town planning: this was a whole community built from scratch, with a
> bunch of rules that required people to be good neighbours. Even today,
> people there like those rules broadly adhered to, and the atmosphere is
> all the better for it. There's really only Bournville to compare to it,
> as a philanthropist-built town.

New Lanark, Port Sunlight and New Earswick also spring to (my) mind. i'm sure that there are many more.

--
Andy McC

[Jon Green]

Port Sunlight I'd heard of (but forgotten) - the others are new to me.
I'll take a look; thanks!

[tim...]

"Jon Green" <jo...@deadspam.com> wrote in message
news:oNKdne7g0dpBG7_K...@brightview.co.uk...

> On 26/04/2016 10:08, Andy McC wrote:
>> On Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 7:33:04 PM UTC+1, Jon Green wrote:
>>> On 05/04/2016 23:28, Golan Trevize wrote:
>>>> Saltaire - a moderately interesting example of Victorian industrial
>>>> town planning, but hardly of earth-shattering importance in the overall
>>>> scheme of things - is on the list. A bunch of disused Cornish tin
>>>> mines is on the list.
>>>
>>> I'm glad about that. I'm rather fond of Saltaire. It's more than just
>>> town planning: this was a whole community built from scratch, with a
>>> bunch of rules that required people to be good neighbours. Even today,
>>> people there like those rules broadly adhered to, and the atmosphere is
>>> all the better for it. There's really only Bournville to compare to it,
>>> as a philanthropist-built town.
>>
>> New Lanark, Port Sunlight and New Earswick also spring to (my) mind. i'm
>> sure that there are many more.
>
> Port Sunlight I'd heard of (but forgotten) - the others are new to me.
> I'll take a look; thanks!

New Lanark is a "museum", it isn't a living town. It's much the same as
Beamish and the Black Country Museum, if perhaps a little bigger

I've not heard of New Earswick either

tim