English Heritage: the immortal quango

It’s easily forgotten that Stonehenge is owned by the public alone and English Heritage is only licensed to administer it (or indeed, to have anything to do with it) until April 2023. That means English Heritage has the mandate to do no more than write a brief and inconsequential page in the long history of Stonehenge, not an enduring one.

And yet, it is trying to achieve a truly profound change in which Stonehenge will be hidden from tens of millions of travellers, not just until 2023 but forever!

What does this say about a heritage organisation’s understanding of the broad sweep of history beyond its own petty span and its understanding of the fleeting significance of mere quangos? Here’s a teeshirt we’re thinking of marketing that makes the point nicely. Anyone want one? £11 each. Proceeds to charity.

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