VIRTUAL: Prague Heritages

Abstract

According to Hayden White, “history is essentially a narrative discourse” (White, 1971) which cannot lay claim to fundamental truths. In the interest of deriving narrative intent and closure, cause and effect relationships have defined the structure of the historical and cultural narratives. These narratives are structured through retrospective and prospective historical timelines (Harvey, 2008) rendering both process and product a consequence of linear or relative sequencing of events that demonstrate the influence of the past on the present and future. The research discusses the perception of heritage through the formulation of narratives by means of linear and non-linear historical trajectories specific to cultural groups and communities. Cultural arguments based on diverse forms of narration have aided the process of identifying and defending underrepresented forms of heritage pertaining to mainstream and subaltern cultures. The Bevis Marks Synagogue has undergone a lengthy planning process which has unraveled the nuances of political actors, co-operation and competition within built environment services, and the motivations of an international community in support of its protection. Contested by schemes of urban renewal which posed a threat to its stability and long-standing cultural capital in the Square Mile, the last few years have defined the significance of the synagogue with regard to Jewish cultural heritage in London and across the world. The research employs both methods of chronological and relative sequencing to narrate the history of this establishment and present an argument in defence for its preservation.