The first half of this research considers the origins of the prevailing approach to the conservation and presentation of ancient monuments, particularly those in the guardianship of the state. Beginning with the definition of preservation principles in the nineteenth century, the research examines the creation of a government preservation office and the introduction of preservation legislation. The second half of the research examines the changes taking place in the theoretical approaches to Cultural Heritage Management, much of which derives from experience in Australia and America, and considers this work alongside a new agenda for 'the heritage' in England where it is overtly stated that the heritage industry and conservation can be used to address social issues such as urban and rural regeneration and social exclusion. The implications of the current Government and peer reviews of conservation practice and primary legislation have also been considered in order to determine their impact on the status of the familiar preserved ruin, ideas of 'monumentality', the role of the heritage manager and the politicization of heritage. It is argued in this thesis that the preservation and presentation approach of the Office of Works and its successors has conditioned our understanding of the past, making the introduction of a new paradigm unnecessarily confrontational. This research contributes to a number of areas of knowledge. The origins and development of conservation practice in England have received relatively little analysis and the expansion of the Office of Works in the first quarter of the twentieth century has yet to be analysed in detail. Similarly British conservation practice in an Imperial context - particularly that in the Levant - has received very little critical consideration and it is believed that this research presents the first assessment of the career of George H. Jeffery, Curator of Ancient Monuments, Cyprus.

A number of problems related to area-based conservation have been encountered in England and the Netherlands. These are largely related to the inability of local councils to correctly define the character of the areas that they wish to conserve. This inability, which often derives from a lack of theoretical basis, has commonly led to poorly delimited conservation areas, inadequate character assessments and, consequently, poor townscape management. The urban morphologist Conzen put forward an approach that contributed to the solution of a number of geographical problems of landscape characterization and delimitation. In particular his work on townscape regions attempted to provide a theoretically based method that aimed to delimit a hierarchy of various character areas in the townscape. It is based upon an understanding of the townscape as the `objectivation of the spirit' of the successive generations that have occupied it. However, the method lacks clear-cut guidelines and has remained relatively elusive. This thesis examines the way in which Conzen's approach to the delimitation of townscape regions may contribute to current problems of conservation area delimitation and character assessment. It seeks to distil from Conzen's ideas an approach to delimitation, which is subsequently tested on two case study areas, one in England and one in the Netherlands. Following this analysis, an attempt is made to use the character areas identified as a basis for the formulation of guidelines for townscape management.

This thesis asks why and how the bicentenary was commemorated in order to develop a tool kit of best practices for presenting contested histories. The study identifies that heritage professionals learned new skills in interpreting difficult histories and in engaging with new audiences. It also identifies that these gains were not subsequently embedded into how the heritage industry works. Data from interviews and site visits indicate that reasons for this include a lack of strategic topdown, cross-departmental commitment, the lack of cultural diversity within the workforce, heritage collections and sites that do not reflect the increasingly diverse population, and strong divisions between curators and practitioners. These issues were compounded at historic houses, especially those with close links with the original family - yet this research indicates that many of these are increasingly prepared to acknowledge their connections to the slave trade. The toolkit developed out of this research provides strategic guidance on organisational management to encourage compliance, on working with professional and community partners, and on effective ways of presenting difficult stories. Techniques include embedding multiple perspectives into the narrative, using heritage sites as safe spaces for group debate and by contextualising a difficult story to the broader history of the site, to the area and to its historical setting. Understanding the ways in which a story is contested is essential. This thesis identifies that the heritage industry is under threat; it needs to adapt how it works with its collections and with its visitors in order to attract new funding streams and new audiences. As part of an emerging public understanding of the darker aspects of colonial activities, there is now an active debate about the provenance and presentation of heritage collections. Through strategic and organisational changes, the heritage industry can respond to these challenges and present inclusive and sensitive narratives.

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This thesis aims to assess if actor-network theory (Latour, 2005) is capable of providing an alternative method for looking at the redevelopment of the historic built environment. It is argued that although the historic built environment enjoys a great deal of public attention the relationship between buildings and the people that inhabit them has not been extensively studied. Examination of the literature suggests that most previous studies have either focused on the social elements or the physical elements in isolation and have failed to consider how one influences the other. It is proposed that actor-network theory may be able to provide an alternative ontological perspective that bridges this socialphysical divide and allows the influence of the relationships between the human and the non-human elements to be taken into consideration. In order to assess this, the thesis utilises a single case study that focuses on the redevelopment of the former brewery at Henley upon Thames in South Oxfords hire. The events leading to the closure of the brewery and the subsequent redevelopment of the site into two very different uses form the basis of the case study. Whilst initially these events are narrated using a traditional chronological format, the use of such a format hides the complex nature of the relationships that enable the case. Actor-network theory therefore provides a means of exposing some of this complexity and as a result can be regarded a valid methodology for the consideration of the historic built environment by transcending temporal boundaries and aligning local interests with global events. The thesis shows that the actor-network perspective allows the redevelopment of the historic built environment to be considered in a manner that demonstrates the complex interdependent relationships between the physical and the social dimensions.

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Despite the growing body of research on the concept of adaptive capacity, there is an absence of research which investigates adaptive capacity in the field of cultural heritage management. Climatic changes have potentially serious implications for the historic environment, which is itself a non-renewable resource. Cultural heritage sites can be particularly sensitive to severe weather events and to changes in climate, both due to direct impacts on built structures, archaeology and designed landscapes, but also due to changes in visitor behaviour and the potentially adverse implications of adaptive measures on heritage significance. This research investigated the adaptive capacity of the management of cultural heritage sites in the UK, through the assessment of adaptive capacity at selected case study sites. A questionnaire survey of all UK WHS sites, a review of plans and policy, and interviews with key stakeholders at a national level also contribute to the study. An in-depth qualitative analysis of three UK World Heritage Sites was undertaken, which were Ironbridge Gorge, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal and Blenheim Palace. Fieldwork included site visits, interviews with stakeholders involved in site management such as property managers, conservators and local authority officers, and a thorough documentary review. A conceptual framework of adaptive capacity relevant for heritage management has been developed, which can be used as a tool for analysis, in order to highlight strengths and weaknesses in capacity. The key determinants of adaptive capacity in the framework, identified through the research, are cognitive factors, leadership, learning capacity, access to information, authority and resources. The research makes a contribution to adaptive capacity theory, with adaptive capacity theory being found to be applicable to heritage management, but with certain limitations. Areas of weakness and strengths in adaptive capacity at the case study sites and in wider World Heritage management planning have been identified, and practical recommendations are presented. The study found that whilst progress is being made within the heritage sector on adaptation, there are significant challenges and areas where capacity could be enhanced. Notably, there is a lack of information on best practice and guidance on adaptation within a heritage context. Tools for futures thinking such as climate change scenarios are not being widely used in management planning, and concerns about the uncertainties associated with climate data are prevalent. Although clear top down guidance is needed to provide drivers and a framework for action, this needs to be balanced with local flexibility, in order to allow locally appropriate and sensitive decision making to protect significance. There is also a need for further collaboration and dialogue between different sectors, with sustained cooperation required to combine the approaches and requirements of those from different fields e.g. the integration of heritage concerns into the work of emergency planners.

The state of conservation practice and the fate of historic buildings and cities reflect the critical issue of the value of heritage in Malaysia. The idea of safeguarding heritage has been far behind the agenda of the government until recent years. This has resulted in physical and cultural heritage loss. The consciousness of the importance of heritage has triggered the implementation of the National Heritage Act 2005 which focuses on safeguarding the nation's heritage. The implementation of the act, however, has been late when compared to the poor state of built heritage in Malaysia. This Base Line research focuses on how the conservation of heritage can lead to the regeneration of historic cities. The study seeks to identify the important characteristics of historic cities which give them identity and to examine the relationship between the conservation of historic buildings and the regeneration of historic cities, particularly in Malaysia, in order to understand the elements which should be taken into consideration in regeneration or redevelopment schemes carried out within historic cities. The scope of the research covers both theoretical and practical aspects of conservation practice and regeneration initiatives of historic cities, specifically relevant to Malaysia, taking into consideration social, cultural, political, and economic aspects and stakeholders' aspirations. This thesis explains the relationship between conservation of historic buildings and regeneration of historic cities by looking at the examples of regeneration schemes in the UK and development proposals by local authorities in Malaysia. The results from the study give an understanding of the scenario in the historic areas in Melaka and George Town, to assess whether the conservation proposals carried out have improved the area and have helped in regenerating the economy of the area, thus, to providing a baseline to demonstrate that the conservation of historic buildings can lead to the regeneration of historic areas in Malaysia.

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