Latest news with #historicalPreservation
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How York walls were saved
JONATHAN FRENCH reveals the real story of how the York walls- our precious city landmarks - were saved IN 1799 the Corporation petitioned Parliament for an Act to enable them to demolish the York walls. This petition was supported by the local newspapers and public meetings. Most cities in England had removed their walls by that time. The only exception was Chester where they were restored to provide a public walkway. However the petition was not taken forward. One suspicion was that Archbishop Markham, a close confident of the George III, may have used his influence. The Archbishops of York had the right to collect tolls on Lammas fair in August and they were determined to protect their interests. Matters came to a head when the Corporation demolished the Skeldergate postern in 1807 without consulting the Archbishop. The Church took the matter to court which ruled in the Archbishop's favour. This judgement was reinforced when the Corporation attempted to remove the Micklegate barbican in 1812 and the new Archbishop, Vernon Harcourt, obtained an injunction to prevent it. Enhanced aerial view of Walmgate Bar, c 1900. Picture: Explore York Libraries and Archives The city faced a crisis of accessibility. Its population doubled between 1800 and 1830 and new buildings beyond the walls led to traffic jams at the main gatehouses. In the 1820s, the Corporation, now working in consultation with the Archbishop, removed the barbicans at Micklegate and Monkgate, while preserving the gatehouses. Attitudes to the city's mediaeval past were changing. William Hargrove, latterly editor of the York Herald, in his 1818 history of York celebrated its mediaeval heritage and advocated restoring the walls to create a walkway for the visitor. The formation of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society (YPS) in 1822 provided an organisation for these antiquarian interests. Recommended reading: Whatever happened to York Castle? A sad story of a lost city landmark Is it time to redesign York's coat of arms - and what would we put in it? Recognise this derelict York building - it's quite different today The creation of St Leonard's Place by 1830 exposed structural weaknesses in Bootham Bar. The Corporation initially agreed to demolish the whole gatehouse but a campaign led by Canon William Vernon Harcourt, president of the YPS and the son of the Archbishop, convinced the Corporation to reverse their position. The Archbishop agreed to the removal of the barbican, subject to an agreement that the Walmgate barbican should be retained. York painter William Etty has been is given the credit for this success due to a misleading biography after his death. He was a supporter of preservation and his letter writing was influential but he was absent from the city in this period. Statue of William Etty in Exhibition Square, erected in 1911. Photo - Explore York Libraries and Archives Mutual Ltd It was the Archbishop's suggestion that the York Footpath Association should organise a subscription for the restoration of the southern walls and work commenced in 1831. Further subscriptions were raised to restore the Fishergate walls. Walmgate Bar itself was restored using money from the Great North Railway Company's payment to breach the walls at Barker Tower in 1842. From then on, the Corporation funded restoration but it took a long time to complete. The last stages around Dean Park were delayed when the Dean and others objected to visitors looking down on their gardens but a popular movement in the city persuaded them to back down, enabling final completion by 1889. The role of the Archbishops was well understood at that time. Alderman Brown, a longstanding Councillor said ironically that whilst the Corporation began the century attempting demolition of the walls against Cathedral opposition, 90 years later it completed wall restoration despite Cathedral opposition.
Associated Press
18-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Archaeologists unearth foundation of 1760s schoolhouse for Black children
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — Archaeologists in Virginia have unearthed the foundation of a building from the 1700s that once supported the nation's oldest surviving schoolhouse for Black children, William & Mary announced Wednesday. The university in Williamsburg said the foundation is nearly completely intact. Archaeologists also uncovered a cellar that is layered with centuries of artifacts, including slate pencil fragments and jewelry. The schoolhouse was later used as a dormitory, housing some of the first generations of women to attend college in the U.S. 'The roots of our city and university entwine here,' said Katherine A. Rowe, William & Mary's president. 'Every layer of history that it reveals gives us new insights into our early republic, from the Williamsburg Bray School through the generations that followed, up through the early 20th century.' The Williamsburg Bray School taught hundreds of mostly enslaved students in the 1760s. The school rationalized slavery within a religious framework. And yet becoming literate also gave them more agency, with students sharing what they learned with family members. The schoolhouse then became a private home before it was incorporated into William & Mary's growing campus. The building was expanded for various purposes, including student housing, and later moved from its original location. Historians identified the structure in 2020 through a scientific method that examines tree rings in lumber. It was then moved to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, a living history museum that includes parts of the original city. The museum has restored the schoolhouse and is working to identify the students' descendants. Meanwhile, archaeologists with Colonial Williamsburg recently uncovered the foundation and cellar during a major project by William & Mary to renovate a university building, Gates Hall. The school's archaeologists are also involved. Tom Higgins of William & Mary's Center for Archaeological Research said the cellar is not lined with bricks and 'was probably dug soon after the foundations were laid.' Researchers have found handmade ceramics often associated with sites of enslavement and Indigenous communities, the university said. There are also items that appear to be more recent, such as a shard of glass depicting Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, war and the arts. From 1924 to 1930, the building housed Methodist women attending William & Mary. 'We know that the girls at Brown Hall were furnishing their dorms,' said Michele Brumfield, senior researcher at the university's archaeological center. 'So maybe they were bringing in things like this.'
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ardurra Acquires Cultural Resource Management Firm, Janus Research, Inc.
MIAMI, June 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ardurra Group Inc. (Ardurra) announced today the acquisition of Janus Research, Inc. (Janus), a cultural resource management firm that has served Florida clients for over 40 years. Ardurra, ranked #75 on Engineering News-Record's (ENR) Top 500 list, is known for delivering complex engineering and design services to public and private entities across the United States. Founded in 1979, Janus Research is a cultural resource management firm based in Tampa, Florida. The firm helps protect and preserve important historical and cultural sites through comprehensive assessment, planning, and compliance services. Their 21-person team ensures development projects meet federal and state preservation requirements while balancing progress with cultural stewardship across Florida's diverse communities. The acquisition makes Ardurra a top-three cultural resource management provider in the state of Florida. "Janus Research, Inc. has earned an exceptional reputation over four decades in Florida's cultural resource management market. As we continue building our CRM capabilities, their expertise and long-standing relationships will significantly strengthen what we can offer clients. We're pleased to welcome such a respected team to Ardurra," said Ernesto Aguilar, PE, President and CEO of Ardurra. "Building our reputation for excellence and ethical research as a small firm hasn't been easy, but our team has always maintained the highest professional standards," said Ken Hardin, President of Janus Research. "Ardurra shares our values and approach to quality work. We've collaborated on projects before and have great respect for their colleagues. This partnership allows us to take our commitment to excellence to the next level." Janus Research will continue to operate from Tampa while integrating with Ardurra's existing CRM team. About Ardurra Headquartered in Miami, Ardurra provides complex engineering, consulting, and design services for various end markets, including water, transportation, aviation, and public works across the United States. Ardurra Group Inc. operates as a portfolio company of Littlejohn & Co., LLC. (Littlejohn). Littlejohn is a Greenwich, Connecticut-based investment firm focused on private equity and debt investments, primarily in middle-market companies. With approximately $8.0 billion in regulatory assets under management, the firm seeks to build sustainable success for its portfolio companies through a disciplined approach to engineering change. For more information about Littlejohn, visit For more about Ardurra, visit About Janus Research, Inc. Janus Research, Inc., a cultural resource management company established in 1979. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, the firm helps protect and preserve important historical and cultural sites through comprehensive assessment, planning, and compliance services. Their work ensures development projects meet federal and state preservation requirements while balancing progress with cultural stewardship across Florida's diverse communities. More information is available at View source version on Contacts Media Contact Information Ginny Waters813.327.6042 | gwaters@ Ardurra Group, Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
12-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Tourists could soon visit this former prisoner of war camp
Nene Park Trust has acquired Norman Cross, the world's first purpose-built prisoner of war camp, located in Cambridgeshire, from a private farmer to preserve it as a site of historical significance. The site, near Peterborough, contains the remains of approximately 1,770 French, Dutch, and German soldiers captured during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The trust aims to conserve the area and open it to the public, offering a historical and green space for visitors. The camp, which operated from 1797 to 1814 and housed around 7,000 French prisoners, functioned as a self-contained town with barracks, offices, a hospital, school, marketplace, and banking system. The acquisition was made possible through £200,000 of grant funding from Historic England and £50,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with the goal of sharing its green space and unique stories for generations to come.
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
World's first prisoner of war camp used over 200 years ago is bought from farmer
A prisoner of war camp from the Napoleonic era located in Cambridgeshire has been acquired by a trust to preserve it as a site of historical significance. Nene Park Trust has purchased Norman Cross, recognised as the world's first purpose-built prisoner of war camp, from a private farmer. The site, near Peterborough, holds the remains of approximately 1,770 French, Dutch, and German soldiers who were captured during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The trust aims to conserve the area and open it to the public, offering both a historical and green space for visitors. Today, the camp is barely visible beneath a field used for crops and grazing. However, historian Paul Chamberlain notes that it once functioned as a self-contained town, complete with barracks, offices, a hospital, school, marketplace, and banking system. It operated from 1797 to 1814 and housed around 7,000 French prisoners. The location was chosen because it was far from the sea, making it difficult for any escapees to return to France. Prisoners made intricate models from bone, wood and straw to sell at the camp market and trade for food, tobacco and wine. Around 800 of these artefacts, which include miniature ships and chateaus, are on display at the nearby Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery. The trust received £200,000 of grant funding from Historic England and £50,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to buy the camp following years of negotiations. Its acquisition was fought for by resident Derek Lopez, who owned the Norman Cross Gallery near Yaxley and was an advocate of Peterborough's history. He died last year before seeing the sale. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: 'The Norman Cross prisoner of war camp represents a pivotal moment in our shared European heritage that deserves to be better known.' Matthew Bradbury, chief executive of Nene Park Trust, said he was 'delighted' to take on the ownership of Norman Cross and wanted 'to share its green space and unique stories for generations to come'. Heritage minister Baroness Twycross said: 'Norman Cross represents a poignant chapter in our shared European story. 'The remarkable stories of those held in what was the first purpose-built prisoner of war camp should be remembered now and in the future. 'This partnership has secured this valuable heritage site for generations to come.'
