Why Should The Jewellery Quarter Get World Heritage Status

It is the responsibility of English Heritage to advise the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, who they feel should be put forward to join the other 850 plus sites across the globe. The Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham was identified by English Heritage as a historic industrial area of European importance way back in 1999, and as a result has been designated a Conservation Area by Birmingham City Council.

Upon submission from English Heritage, the Department for CM & T then submits a formal bid for World Heritage Status to UNESCO ( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) after being nominated it is up to Governments who are granted the prestigious – World Heritage Status.

Should Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter get a recommendation from Birmingham City Council, it would then do battle with the likes of Shakespeare’s – Stratford-upon-Avon, Chatham Dockyard, Kent, the Lake District, the New Forest, and about a dozen other sites to get the nomination the U.K. Currently there are 24 sites who have achieved ” World Heritage Status ” these being Blenheim Palace (1987)

So why should the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham be granted ” World Heritage Status ”

Well, is true that a number of the competitors that the Jewellery Quarter finds itself up against warrant nominations in their own right, one such site being ” Shakespeare’s – Stratford upon Avon.  However, when one considers that the Jewellery Quarter has not only history in bucket loads, but today, it is also a vibrant and working Urban Village, that continues to bring benefits to the people of the U.K.’s second City.  With more than 1,200 creative, artistic designer type businesses in such a small area, no wonder it is promoted as a chic ” Urban Village. ”

It is true that the Jewellery Quarter will never again reach the dizzy heights of a bygone era, whereby some 60,000 people were employed in the industry, however today the site is reinventing itself to once again to become a major player on the international stage and promoting what is great about the new Jewellery Quarter without forgetting its great heritage and past history.

Originally written Friday, 13 APRIL 2007