Quote:
As one who's lived about 30 years on each side of the pond I would agree on the whole. Great respect for tradition has it's up and down sides of course. That people in Ireland (Eire and the North, both) generally know their history at least back to the C17th has its down side. Same goes for the Scots come to think of it. My own English college is having its 750th this year and I shall attend.Originally Posted by dave67az 
I don't know if this is the answer to your question, but I can tell you this. After living in England for 5 years (1993-1998) I noticed a huge difference in the "British mentality" compared to us "Yanks" when it comes to preservation of history.
In the States, in almost every city, most of us have noticed that we have little problem tearing down old, historic buildings and converting land to parking garages, office buildings, or shopping malls. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part we don't have as strong of an attachment to history and tradition as the Brits do. Part of it, I believe, is the fact that OUR traditions, and OUR history dates back only a few hundred years. English history (and European history, for that matter) dates back thousands of years. I did a lot of traveling around the U.K. while I was there and it wasn't unusual to find a cathedral, castle, or other structures 500 years old and more sitting next to commercially zoned areas. They respect their history too much to tear down many of these sites. In the U.S., I've seen a different approach. I've seen historic buildings actually dismantled and moved to a "more convenient" location in order to use the land for something more commercially beneficial.
I honestly think this is the main reason they're more willing to accept rules that attempt to restore or at least hold onto history and tradition. I also think it's one of the reasons the monarchy still exists. The Royals are figureheads, but I can't see England ever getting rid of them because they're a link to a past of which many Brits are very proud.
I don't know if this is the answer to your question, but I can tell you this. After living in England for 5 years (1993-1998) I noticed a huge difference in the "British mentality" compared to us "Yanks" when it comes to preservation of history.
In the States, in almost every city, most of us have noticed that we have little problem tearing down old, historic buildings and converting land to parking garages, office buildings, or shopping malls. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part we don't have as strong of an attachment to history and tradition as the Brits do. Part of it, I believe, is the fact that OUR traditions, and OUR history dates back only a few hundred years. English history (and European history, for that matter) dates back thousands of years. I did a lot of traveling around the U.K. while I was there and it wasn't unusual to find a cathedral, castle, or other structures 500 years old and more sitting next to commercially zoned areas. They respect their history too much to tear down many of these sites. In the U.S., I've seen a different approach. I've seen historic buildings actually dismantled and moved to a "more convenient" location in order to use the land for something more commercially beneficial.
I honestly think this is the main reason they're more willing to accept rules that attempt to restore or at least hold onto history and tradition. I also think it's one of the reasons the monarchy still exists. The Royals are figureheads, but I can't see England ever getting rid of them because they're a link to a past of which many Brits are very proud.
Harold Godwinson (King Harold) was a 6 hcp while his father (Edward the Confessor) was scratch. This is why William the Conqueror had all the English courses destroyed by about 1080. Many of them were replaced with castles and other fortified structures, the better to subjugate the Saxons. Scottish courses survived of course and the rest was golfing history.
Don't believe me? Look closely at the Bayeux tapestry for proof positive .....
;>)
