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Forth Bridge on track to join pyramids and the Taj Mahal

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Published Date: 07 January 2009
By CHRIS MARSHALL
A BID is being mounted to have the Forth Bridge join Edinburgh's Old and New Towns in being named a World Heritage Site.
A UK-wide review is under way into whether any new sites should be added to those given Unesco status.

Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar first called for the bridge to be recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1999, and that initiative has now been
revived by the SNP Government.

Now campaigners hope the bridge will be next to achieve the accolade already afforded to such iconic sites as the Egyptian pyramids and the Taj Mahal.

However, Unesco's World Heritage Committee has asked countries with the greatest number of existing sites to slow down or suspend their nominations in favour of less represented nations.

Hamish Gilchrist, a South Queensferry sculptor who produced a memorial to workers killed during the building of the bridge, said the structure deserved to be thought of among the world's most treasured sites.

He said: "It's without doubt an iconic structure that is a testimony to Scottish engineering. It may be a lot more modern than the likes of the pyramids and the Taj Mahal, but it's still a real achievement.

"I think the majority of people in South Queensferry would be very supportive of it getting World Heritage status."

Scotland's existing World Heritage sites are the Old and New Towns, the island of St Kilda, Neolithic Orkney, New Lanark and the Roman Antonine Wall.

The rail bridge is on a list of sites which could be set to join them, including Arbroath Abbey, Glasgow School of Art and the Great Glen. The Scottish Government has now launched a consultation on what should be included.

Culture minister Linda Fabiani said: "It is vital that the experience we have of Scotland's five world heritage sites is reflected in the public consultation.

"I am constantly impressed by the passion and commitment so many people have for these sites and I would ask them to get involved to help shape how these sites are protected in the future."

She added: "There can be no question that many people across Scotland are justly proud that so many sites in our country are recognised on this global scale."

The Forth Bridge was designed by Sir William Arrol, and construction began in 1883. The work took seven years to complete, and 57 workers lost their lives.

The consultation period ends on February 24.





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 07 January 2009 10:47 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

brandy al,

embra 07/01/2009 12:55:52
The pyramids will still be standing when the Forth Bridge is well and truly gone.
2

farmer bob,

forth bridge 07/01/2009 13:14:58
At least you don't have to paint the pyramids
3

Wee Keef,

07/01/2009 13:15:28
And your point is?
4

farmer bob,

07/01/2009 13:19:41
painting the bridge at least keeps people in jobs and you must remember there is no salty water to destroy the pyramids so where is the comparison
5

an interested party,

07/01/2009 13:38:07
correct no salty water
but sandblasted instead
6

For Scotlands Future,

Vote for the SNP 07/01/2009 14:09:16
I wonder if the Egyptian gave a pet name to the Pyramids, or the Indians to the Taj Mahal, as the people in Edinburgh, who call the Forth Bridge "George".

#1
I think you're mixing up the Forth Bridge with the Forth Road Bridge.
7

Donnie Murdo,

Western Isles 07/01/2009 14:10:39
The Callanish stones pre-date the pyramids and the Taj and every other structure with exception of Neolithic Orkney maybe.

Wheres the call for that to become this Heritage thingy?
8

Old Cartha Boy,

07/01/2009 14:30:53
Which Taj Mahal are we talking about here - the one near Fountainbridge?
9

Buttress,

07/01/2009 15:21:17
The problem is that we have already World Heritage Sites which we don't look after as well as we should. Some politicians see WHS status as a badge and something to attract tourists, while paying lip service to protection.

The choice may not be ours, UNESCO has asked us to slow down nominations, the UK government is getting lukewarm once it realised it had to look after the sites. That might get in the way of developers.

www.eh8.org.uk
10

Bele's bane,

Scotland 07/01/2009 16:05:09
Post #7 Donnie Muro

Problem is that the wonders of Callanish and Neolithic Orkney are clear evidence that us long haired Northern European Barbarians were in advance of other folk on the planet.

These magnificent achievements of our ancestors will never be acknowledged because it will upset the racists who insist that the wonders must have been built by long vanished Asian or African immigrants who our barbarian ancestors subsequently sold into slavery out of envy of their superior abilities.
11

Douglas,

Bathgate 07/01/2009 16:15:17
I look forward to taking a camel ride from Newton to South Queensferry.
12

gus1940,

Edinburgh 07/01/2009 18:05:03
Although Arrol built The Bridge it was designed by Baker and Fowler.
13

Mr. Borat Sagdiyev,

Kuzcek, Kazakhstan 07/01/2009 18:22:44
"Forth Bridge on track to join pyramids and the Taj Mahal".

What, you mean the Pyramids and the Taj Mahal are falling to bits and new ones need built while various political gits squabble over the funding???

Oops, silly me, that's the Forth Road Bridge, not THE Forth Bridge...
14

COLINTON.MAINS,

Oakville Ontario 07/01/2009 23:16:09
when.i.see.it.from.the.plane.iknow.iam.home
15

Gorach,

Oban 08/01/2009 00:03:01
The culture minister would be well advised to give the hill fort at Dunadd special recognition and protection.
Many of you may know the footprint in the stone. This is where Scotland began. The Gaelic speaking Scots set up a fort here when they came across from Ireland.
In any other nation it would be a national monument with planned yearly school trips for children.
16

truthsleuth,

08/01/2009 00:42:10
The TAJ MAHAL is crumbling and the Pyramids have crumbled neither are fit purpose.



Perhaps what was meant is that the New Forth bridge will be a relic as soon as it is built (heaven forbid)
and will be used to inter Pharaoh AS and his high priests.
17

Ian down under,

Musselburgh 08/01/2009 02:22:31
The pyramids look nice although they are surrounded by grot. The Taj Mahal looks nice too.
The Forth Bridge also looks nice and it is doing what it was built to do which is daily move thousands of people over the Forth. Neither of the other 2 actually serve any practical purpose and really are just nice to see buildings where the bridge has a real, practical function.
18

wade,

here&now 08/01/2009 05:08:36
ditto what gorach said

 

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