A Critical Evaluation of the Global Accolade: the significance of World Heritage Site status for Maritime Greenwich

Abstract

World Heritage Site (WHS) status is becoming a highly valued accolade in both developed and developing countries alike.The diversification and expansion of theWorld Heritage List has led to a more inclusive and representative approach to both designation and inscription. Although this could be perceived as a positive development, questions should still be raised about the meaning and significance of WHS status given the apparently indefinite expansion of the List. The paper will firstly examine the motivations, which appear to underpin the quest for WHS status in an international context, before proceeding to an analysis of Maritime Greenwich, which was inscribed on the List in 1997. Although it is acknowledged that generalisations about the significance of this global accolade are not always useful, the chosen case study exemplifies some of the generic impacts that WHS status can bring in its wake, particularly in historic towns.