'A Future for Sandwell's Heritage' – Review to Raise the Profile Of

Appendix 1 Linking Archaeology & Tourism “An Exploration of the current and possible future strategy for heritage linked tourism in the borough” Select Committee on Heritage & Culture – July 2005 ‘Sandwell’s historic environment is unique, irreplaceable and vulnerable and has great cultural, educational and recreational value to present and future residents of the borough and its visitors.’ Sandwell’s heritage includes buildings, monuments, landscapes and collections. Place names point to its rich heritage, as do documents of people’s memories and personal stories. Finds from the area go back as long as 8000 years to the Mesolithic period and show evidence of continuous settlement since then. Finds have been excavated from Roman times and 5 Saxon settlements are mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Sandwell is fortunate enough to have many cultural and heritage sites, and important historic sites including the 12th century Manor House, the 12th Century Sandwell Priory, the mediaeval timber framed Tudor Oak House, the 19th Century Haden Hill House, the Galton Valley Canal Heritage Centre and Bishop Asbury’s cottage attracting visitors from around the world. Heritage Tourism Heritage Tourism is a branch of tourism oriented towards the cultural heritage of the location where tourism is occurring. It has positive economic and social impacts, it helps preserve our cultural heritage, establishes and reinforces identity and facilitates harmony and understanding amongst people, it supports culture and helps renew tourism. The UK’s heritage is a major contributor to the country’s tourism industry. Heritage is a primary motivator for tourism to and within the UK. Strategic Context Tourism has a positive social and economic impact and is vital to the economic well being of the West Midlands and a growing sector of the regional economy. The Key Aim of The Cultural Strategy is to: • “Use Culture to support the economic vitality of Sandwell, including maximising the visitor potential of residents and tourists.” Tourism contributes to the corporate priority of “Building Safer, Stronger Communities” through • Supporting Sandwell’s strong heritage, including both its built and natural environment through investment and refurbishment of heritage sites eg. Galton Valley Canal Heritage Centre • Improved marketing and promotion of Sandwell’s cultural offer to residents and visitors • Raising civic pride and bringing communities together • Promoting local distinctiveness through the development of heritage trails and a borough wide Faith Trail Sandwell MBC is also committed to the Destination West Bromwich Programme (DWB). DWB is funded from the European Regional Development Fund – ERDF. Its aim is to develop the visitor economy and market the region to attract higher visitor numbers. The Sandwell Tourism Plan Cultural Services commitment towards and future direction in relation to heritage related tourism is clear within the Sandwell Tourism Plan 2007-2011 (approved by Cabinet in November 2007). The Tourism Plan supports the key priorities of Sandwell’s Cultural Strategy embedding the relationship between tourism and the strengthening of cultural activity and the cultural and heritage assets of the borough. Sandwell Museum Service Mission “To support and promote the history, culture and heritage of Sandwell in particular and the Black Country in general for the benefit of local communities, schools, and visitors to the area” The buildings, collections and knowledge of the museum service are identified and protected as a means of securing and maintaining their future as valuable community and cultural assets. Interpretation of the buildings collections and knowledge of the history of the borough of Sandwell as a whole is intended to ensure that both the local community and visitors to the Borough of Sandwell can appreciate, experience and learn from them and about them. Museums Service promotional activity 2005-2008 concentrated on Sandwell residents. The Visitor Market The Black Country Visitor Survey 2006 taken by the Heart of England Tourist Board reveals that the majority of visitors to Sandwell originate in the West Midlands Metropolitan Area and confirms that the Black Country and Sandwell are dependent on the day trip market. Overnight domestic visits to the Black Country as a whole are small. The Tourism Plan has a primary focus to invest in the day trip market and the visitor potential of local people staying in the area and offering a regional experience and economy. Physical Assets Sandwell has an extensive range of historic buildings, other structures and parks. The Responsibility for heritage sites and activities is varied: • Museums – Oak House, Oak House Barns and Stocks, West Bromwich Manor House, Haden Hill Estate: Haden House and Stable Block, Smethwick Engine House • Parks – Scheduled ancient monuments Cobbs Engine House and Chimney and Sandwell Priory and Well as well as Sandwell Valley Farm • Highways – Galton Bridge • British Waterways – The Canal Network In July 2005 The Select Committee on 2005 identified six of the buildings as priorities for investment: • Oak House, Gardens and Barns • West Bromwich Manor House and Manager’s House • Cobbs Engine House and Chimney • Sandwell Priory and Well • Ingestre Hall • Haden Hill Estate: Haden House and Stable Block The Sandwell Story It is recognised that most Tourism in the UK is partly motivated by natural or cultural heritage and visitors indulging in heritage related activity. We need to continue to tell the story of Sandwell and provide opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy Sandwell’s unique heritage and history through the visitor attractions that we have and through a variety of interpretive means and formats including archaeology, buildings, museum collections, research etc. Possible Future Strategy Sandwell’s Museum Service is clear with regard to the required direction of travel within the context of existing strategies and recognised priorities. The Museum Service welcomes the archaeological activity that has taken place particularly in Wednesbury recently and looks forward with anticipation to utilising the results of these and other (including forthcoming) excavations within our educational and interpretative programmes. .

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