Cumbria tops heritage index
Districts in Cumbria spanned the top five areas for heritage in the North West, according to the 2016 RSA Heritage Index. South Lakeland made the national top 10, while Liverpool was overthrown by Bristol as top heritage city.
Produced in collaboration with the Heritage Lottery Fund, the annual index included more metrics this year, combining data on physical assets, local delicacies, historic businesses and heritage activities, including community initiatives and volunteering.
The index is based on more than 120 metrics, including the number of listed buildings, World Heritage Sites, blue plaques, artefacts, ancient trees, heritage volunteer groups and companies established before 1940 in a given area. It is calculated on a per person per square mile basis.
South Lakeland, Copeland, Eden, Barrow-in-Furness and Allerdale comprised the top five areas on the index for the North West. South Lakeland ranked nationally as sixth for overall heritage and second for heritage activity.
Liverpool has been knocked off the top spot as heritage city in England by Bristol. Manchester is now fifth on the index, down from fourth.
The data showed that areas with higher levels of heritage activity have a higher quality of life based on ONS wellbeing measures.
Analysis of the index also indicates that there is no link between heritage and prosperity; Barrow-in-Furness is in the top 20, despite being among the 30 most deprived local authorities in England.
North West Top 10 |
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Overall | Assets | Activity |
1. South Lakeland | 1. Barrow-in-Furness | 1. South Lakeland |
2. Copeland | 2. Copeland | 2. Eden |
3. Eden | 3. Wirral | 3. Burnley |
4. Barrow-in-Furness | 4. Sefton | 4. Wyre |
5. Allerdale | 5. Allerdale | 5. Allerdale |
6. Wirral | 6. South Lakeland | 6. Cheshire West & Chester |
7. Sefton | 7. Eden | 7. Blackpool |
8. Blackpool | 8. Lancaster | 8. Fylde |
9. Lancaster | 9. West Lancashire | 9. Manchester |
10. Wyre | 10. Chorley | 10. Preston |
North West Bottom 10 | ||
Overall | Assets | Activity |
1. Bolton | 1. Hyndburn | 1. South Ribble |
2. Salford | 2. South Ribble | 2. Pendle |
3. Stockport | 3. Ribble Valley | 3. Bury |
4. South Ribble | 4. Cheshire West and Chester | 4. Trafford |
5. Warrington | 5. Warrington | 5. St Helens |
6. Cheshire East | 6. Salford | 6. Barrow-in-Furness |
7. Trafford | 7. Knowsley | 7. Bolton |
8. Wigan | 8. Trafford | 8. West Lancashire |
9. St Helens | 9. St Helens | 9. Knowsley |
10. Knowsley | 10. Cheshire East | 10. Wigan |
Top heritage cities 2016 |
1. Bristol |
2. Liverpool |
3. Sheffield |
4. Nottingham |
5. Manchester |
6. Newcastle |
7. Leeds |
8. Birmingham |