‘Beyond the list’: a critical examination of the development and impacts of statutory and non-statutory heritage lists on the national management of heritage in England

Beyond the list. This doctoral thesis looks at the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) and ‘beyond’ it, by investigating local listing and placing both in the wider context of heritage management in England. The research critically examines understandings of the balance and distinctions between ‘national’ and ‘local’, ‘expert’ and ‘community led’ views of designated and non-designated assets. It assesses innovations in policy and practice since 2010 and provides a fresh perspective on the direction of travel for heritage management. A collaborative project between Historic England and the University of York, the study combines academically rigorous research with findings applicable for practice.

Over the last decade, Historic England (HE) has commissioned two major reviews of the statutory lists: Cherry and Chitty (2010) and Saunders (2019). Building on the scope of these two reports, this thesis pays greater attention to the non-statutory lists and includes a wider range of participant views: including local stakeholders alongside heritage professionals.

The dual priorities of the heritage sector and academia are reflected in the use of assemblage theory. Participants views are gathered, from a range of perspectives in the assemblage, through focus groups, interviews, and documentary analysis of local authority heritage strategies. On compiling and comparing these views, the research finds implications for four main areas: the coverage of the NHLE, the varying quality of list descriptions, the role of local lists as microcosms of the NHLE, and addressing intangible heritage. The thesis demonstrates that assemblage theory offers a useful perspective for understanding heritage lists in their operational context, highlighting agencies, their interactions, and the resultant evolution of the sector. By conceptualizing lists within the operations of the heritage sector, the findings in this study are relevant to practice whilst contributing to a growing body of heritage research utilizing assemblage perspectives.