Culture minister David Lammy has unveiled the UK’s next three nominations for world heritage status.
The Antonine Wall, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Twin Monastery of Wearmouth and Jarrow have been put forward to UNESCO for consideration as world heritage sites.
The Antonine Wall was built by the Roman army on the orders of the Emperor Antoninus Pius following the successful re-conquest of southern Scotland in AD 142. It was added to the UK Tentative List this year and would form an extension to the Frontiers of the Roman Empire Transnational World Heritage Site presently comprising Hadrian’s Wall and the Upper Raetian German Limes.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is one of the world’s most renowned achievements of waterways engineering. Built as part of the improvement to transport during the industrialisation era, the structure was a pioneer of cast iron construction and the highest canal aqueduct ever built.
The third nomination is the twin Anglo-Saxon monastery at Wearmouth and Jarrow. Benedict Biscop had the monastery built in the 7th century. The first historian of the English people – Bede – was a member of the community.
Lammy said: “Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape has just been successfully inscribed as the 27th UK World Heritage Site. Earlier this year we put forward Darwin at Downe as the UK’s 2006 nomination for consideration in 2007. We now need to turn our attention to the running order of nominations for 2007 and beyond.
“I am extremely pleased with the nominations for 2007 to 2009. The Antonine Wall will be an important addition to the existing Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage site, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is world known and an impressive example of waterways engineering in the late 18th century and the twin Anglo Saxon monastery at Wearmouth and Jarrow is a historic legacy of Benedict Biscop’s vision in the seventh century.”
Documents formally outlining the case for each of the three nominations are being prepared, which will be submitted to UNESCO in February 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Following submission, the World Heritage Committee will assess the nominations and make a decision at its annual meeting the following summer. Details: www.culture.gov.uk
