York Goes for World Heritage Status

York’s hidden history will hold the key to the city’s bid to become a World Heritage Site.
City of York Council is today officially submitting its application for the city to be named on a list of UK nominations for the accolade, which, if it succeeds, would massively boost its profile and economy and rank it alongside the likes of the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids.

Five potential sites are likely to be named on a UK Tentative List to be revealed next year, with one then being put forward every two years from 2012 to UNESCO, the organisation with the final say on inclusion.

Launching York’s bid at the Mansion House yesterday, Janet Hopton, who chairs the York World Heritage Steering Group, said the focus would be on the city’s “outstanding” archaeology, which has just seen the possible discovery of the world’s best-preserved gladiator cemetery.