Forth Bridge could receive World Heritage status The two attractions were chosen from a shortlist of 11 sites, which included the Chatham Dockyard in Kent, the Cresswell Crags on the border between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, the Monkwearmouth-Jarrow monastery near Newcastle, and the island of St Helena. Formal nominations must now be prepared for both sites, before an 18-month evaluation is undertaken by Unesco, the body which awards the honour. A final decision will be made on the Forth Bridge's inclusion in June 2015, and on Gorham's Cave the following year. John Penrose, the heritage minister, said: "Nomination to Unesco for World Heritage status is incredibly rewarding, but the process is pretty tough and success is by no means guaranteed. Both the Forth Bridge and Gorham's Cave are strong contenders, so I wish them all the best. The Forth Bridge was completed in 1890, lies nine miles west of Edinburgh and is one of Scotland's most recognisable landmarks. It was Britain's first major steel structure, and is still considered a marvel of engineering. David Simpson, route managing director for Network Rail Scotland, described the crossing as "one of the most recognisable bridges anywhere in the world." He added: "The bridge has become a source of pride and a symbol of Scotland's resilience and ingenuity but, we must never lose sight of the fact that it is first and foremost a working structure which still carries over 200 trains a day." Gorham's Cave is a natural sea cave on the south-east face of the Rock of Gibraltar. It is of considerable archaeological interest, due to Neanderthal remains found there. Britain currently possesses 28 World Heritage Sites, among the most famous of which are Stonehenge, Giant's Causeway, Westminster Abbey, Hadrian's Wall and the Tower of London. See http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/historic_environment/7373.aspx for a full list.