TV historian Robinson: heritage 'reinvention' can salvage spirit of Christmas
No pantos and definitely no parties but Sir Tony Robinson believes the reinvention of heritage sites as festive attractions could rescue the spirit of Christmas for thousands of families.
The TV historian, 74, is a long-time champion of UK heritage and knows the sector has a vital role to play as restrictions prevent the British public from enjoying their usual routines.
Earlier this year 77 per cent of heritage organisations claimed to have lost business as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with 59 per cent being forced to postpone or cancel income-generating events.
But this holiday season historic sites such as Hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens and Wiltshire’s Longleat Estate transformed into Christmas attractions, while indoor socialising and travel remain restricted.
And Sir Tony, who spent lockdown shedding two stone and voraciously consuming literature, says innovation can still salvage the holiday season.
“One of the few silver linings to Covid has been that people have used [heritage sites] in their hundreds of thousands,” said Sir Tony, who this week bestowed a unique honour on eight heritage heroes who have helped keep the sector alive with the help of National Lottery funding.
“There’s no doubt it’s going to be a difficult time for everybody this Christmas, but I think more people will see engaging with the world around them as part of something they really want to do.
“Reinvention is what I find so exciting. It’s only been in the last five or six years that we’ve learned to put down these temporary ice rinks in a way that New Yorkers have been doing for the best part of a century.
“These were places of celebration, not just gaunt, lonely history. It’s very easy to fall into pseudo-romantic attitudes towards the world around us. I find this reimagining and rethinking very exciting, it’s what the people who originally created these places would have wanted us to be doing.
“If you ask any of the specialists at Hampton Court, you’ll not get a static sense of history. They see it as something that is permanently changing, this Christmas proves that."
Hampton Court Palace was one of Henry VIII’s favoured residences and will feature an ice rink for thousands in the capital to enjoy this Christmas. And 18th century Kew Gardens will play host to a light festival, while Longleat Estate – constructed in the 1570s – will reopen this week and glisten with decorations during its Land of Light event.
Historic venues such as Leeds Castle and Lincolnshire’s Doddington Park will also be transformed for the festive period, as families look for alternatives throughout a Covid-affected winter, with the National Lottery supporting sites with some of the £30m raised each week for good causes by players.
Insights released from The National Lottery highlight that 72 percent of people credit visiting outdoor spaces with having a positive effect on their mental wellbeing and a further 62 percent saying the pandemic has made them value heritage sites more than ever.
And this week eight individuals who, with the help of Lottery funding, are supporting heritage projects across the UK were honoured for their work during the pandemic when their faces were projected onto the Stonehenge.
Sir Tony believes enhanced interest in the outdoors is a ‘silver lining’ of the pandemic and the former Time Team presenter is urging families to broaden their horizons and hopes an extension of lifestyle changes can blaze a heritage trail.
“I don’t think you can know who you are unless you know where you come from and where you live,” he added. “I’ve learned far more about the area that I live in than I ever thought I would."
