Now just imagine... in some nightmarish, dystopian future... that ‘private’ sites such as The Chestnuts were ‘owned’, not by wondrous, elderly women (or men) committed to sharing the community’s heritage with itself.... but by individuals with no grasp of the responsibility they possess? Just imagine.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
I can't really imagine why anyone would buy a major heritage site this and then keep it private. It's a disgrace, frankly.
Totally agree.
'Please do not trespass'. Who wouldn't agree IF such landowners acted with integrity and realised that owning land with something such as this upon it comes with a moral responsibility to the wider community? Don't buy it if you don't want that responsibility. Simple. I had this same argument with the 'owner' of Yarnbury Castle in Wiltshire some years back. This individual appeared to believe a top-rate Wessex hillfort should just function as a sheep pen. Needless to say, some people just have no grasp whatsoever of even the most elementary logic..
It's ridiculous isn't it? It's not like you don't know what you're buying; with somewhere like The Chestnuts in particular. The hillforts one is frustrating too, again you must be aware that people will be interested in visiting. Funnily had almost done a Sunday trip to the one tjj has highlighted in the Spring, but was put off by her earlier notes; sounds like it's got even worse since.
This is why I find English sites quite hard work, access is so problematic and you might go a long way not to be able to see something. Not saying all Welsh sites are open, but there's a greater chance of not being faced with this sort of thing where there's more access land. Mind you, there's a classic case of exactly this sort of problem at that burial chamber in someone's garden near Llantrisant.
I tried to gain access a number of years ago and was refused for lack of notice, which was fair enough, however, this really is taking it too far, surely they are 'owned' by the nation (or at least belong to) not the land owner
Yes, I think anything like this should be accessible, in state care preferably.