Understanding the HERUnderstanding the HER

An overview of the Historic An overview of the Historic Environment Record:Environment Record:

its origins, development and practical its origins, development and practical applications.applications.

Iain Neilson

OverviewOverview

The Historic Environment RecordThe Historic Environment Record

Replaces: Sites and Monuments RecordReplaces: Sites and Monuments Record

• database of designated and non-designated historic database of designated and non-designated historic assetsassets• (sites of archaeological and historic importance)(sites of archaeological and historic importance)

• earthworks, buildings, buried remains revealed as a earthworks, buildings, buried remains revealed as a cropmarks or soilmarks, the area of discovery of a find or cropmarks or soilmarks, the area of discovery of a find or finds scatter, maps or documentary references finds scatter, maps or documentary references

OriginsOrigins

• 1533: “"a moste gratius 1533: “"a moste gratius commission“commission“

• Leland visited religious Leland visited religious houses in England, houses in England, recording the contents of recording the contents of their librariestheir libraries

John Leland13 September, c.1503 – 18 April 1552

OriginsOrigins

• 1536: Act for the Dissolution of the Lesser 1536: Act for the Dissolution of the Lesser MonasteriesMonasteries

• "The Germans perceive our desidousness, "The Germans perceive our desidousness, and do send daily young scholars hither and do send daily young scholars hither that spoileth [books], and cutteth them out that spoileth [books], and cutteth them out of libraries, returning home and putting of libraries, returning home and putting them abroad as monuments of their own them abroad as monuments of their own country." country."

OriginsOrigins• 1538 – 1543: The Itineraries1538 – 1543: The Itineraries• Copious notes, but no finished workCopious notes, but no finished work• 1544: “New Year's Gift“:1544: “New Year's Gift“:

• John bale published "The laboryouse journey & serche of Johan Leylande for John bale published "The laboryouse journey & serche of Johan Leylande for Englandes antiquitees", a letter in which Leland addressed King Henry and Englandes antiquitees", a letter in which Leland addressed King Henry and explained his progress and intentions, namely:explained his progress and intentions, namely:

• De uiris illustribus, a biographical encyclopedia of British writersDe uiris illustribus, a biographical encyclopedia of British writers

• A detailed map of the realm engraved on a silver table, accompanied by a written A detailed map of the realm engraved on a silver table, accompanied by a written description, the Liber de topographia Britanniae, and a key to identifying the description, the Liber de topographia Britanniae, and a key to identifying the British place-names given in ancient texts.British place-names given in ancient texts.

• A history of England and Wales, entitled De Antiquitate Britannica, or Civilis A history of England and Wales, entitled De Antiquitate Britannica, or Civilis Historia. Historia.

• De nobilitate Britannica, a catalogue of royalty, nobility, and "capitaines and De nobilitate Britannica, a catalogue of royalty, nobility, and "capitaines and rulers", divided chronologically into three books.rulers", divided chronologically into three books.

OriginsOrigins

• 1576: “Perambulations of 1576: “Perambulations of Kent“Kent“

• Dictionarium Angliae Dictionarium Angliae Topographicum et Topographicum et Historicum Historicum • (published in 1730)(published in 1730)

William Lambarde Oct 18, 1536 – Aug 19, 1601

OriginsOrigins

• 1587 - 1607: "Britannia“1587 - 1607: "Britannia“• "to restore antiquity to "to restore antiquity to

Britaine, and Britaine to its Britaine, and Britaine to its antiquity“antiquity“• Originally in LatinOriginally in Latin• Seven editionsSeven editions

• 1610: First English edition, 1610: First English edition, published by Philemon published by Philemon HollandHolland

William Camden 2 May 1551 – 9 November 1623

OriginsOrigins

• 1622: “Description of 1622: “Description of Leicester Shire”Leicester Shire”

William Burton William Burton 24 Aug1575 – 6 Apr 164524 Aug1575 – 6 Apr 1645

OriginsOrigins• 1622: William Burton 24 August 1575 – 6 April 1645, Description of 1622: William Burton 24 August 1575 – 6 April 1645, Description of

Leicester Shire Leicester Shire

• 1656: Sir William Dugdale 12 September 1605 – 10 February 1686, 1656: Sir William Dugdale 12 September 1605 – 10 February 1686, Antiquities of Warwickshire, 1662, The History of Imbanking and Antiquities of Warwickshire, 1662, The History of Imbanking and Drayning Drayning

• 1677: Robert Plot 13 December 1640 – April 30, 1696 (first Keeper 1677: Robert Plot 13 December 1640 – April 30, 1696 (first Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford), The Natural History of of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford), The Natural History of Oxford-shire: Being an Essay Towards the Natural History of Oxford-shire: Being an Essay Towards the Natural History of England, 1686: The Natural History of Staffordshire England, 1686: The Natural History of Staffordshire

• 1663 - 1693 John Aubrey 12 March 1626 – 7 June 1697 (better 1663 - 1693 John Aubrey 12 March 1626 – 7 June 1697 (better known for "Brief Lives"), Monumenta Brittanica, Natural History of known for "Brief Lives"), Monumenta Brittanica, Natural History of Wiltshire: "Naturall Historie" and "Antiquities" , 1718-1719m "Natural Wiltshire: "Naturall Historie" and "Antiquities" , 1718-1719m "Natural History and Antiquities of Surrey" (Richard Rawlinson) History and Antiquities of Surrey" (Richard Rawlinson)

OriginsOrigins• 1740: Stonehenge, A Temple Restor'd to the British 1740: Stonehenge, A Temple Restor'd to the British

Druids 1743: Palaeographia Britannica, "Abury, A Druids 1743: Palaeographia Britannica, "Abury, A Temple of the British Druids". Temple of the British Druids".

• "THE Wiltshire downs, or Salisbury plain, (as "THE Wiltshire downs, or Salisbury plain, (as commonly call’d) for extent and beauty, is, without commonly call’d) for extent and beauty, is, without controversy, one of the most delightful parts of Britain. controversy, one of the most delightful parts of Britain. But of late years great encroachments have been But of late years great encroachments have been made upon it by the plough, which threatens the ruin of made upon it by the plough, which threatens the ruin of this fine champain, and of all the monuments of this fine champain, and of all the monuments of antiquity thereabouts."antiquity thereabouts."

• "And this stupendous fabric, which for some thousands "And this stupendous fabric, which for some thousands of years, had brav'd the continual assaults of weather, of years, had brav'd the continual assaults of weather, and by the nature of it, when left to itself, like the and by the nature of it, when left to itself, like the pyramids of Egypt, would have lasted as long as the pyramids of Egypt, would have lasted as long as the globe, hath fallen a sacrifice to the wretched ignorance globe, hath fallen a sacrifice to the wretched ignorance and avarice of a little village unluckily plac'd within it."and avarice of a little village unluckily plac'd within it."

William Stukeley William Stukeley 7 Nov 1687 – 3 Mar 17657 Nov 1687 – 3 Mar 1765

John Aubrey: plan of AveburyJohn Aubrey: plan of Avebury

William Stukeley: AveburyWilliam Stukeley: Avebury

William Colt HoareWilliam Colt Hoare

Stone no.4 of the HengeStone no.4 of the Henge

Period Department1908-1912 Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England

1912-1940 Office of Works, Ancient Monuments Branch

1913-1983 Ancient Monuments Board for England

1913-1969 Ancient Monuments Board for Wales

1940-1942 Ministry of Works and Buildings, Ancient Monuments Branch

1942-1943 Ministry of Works and Planning, Ancient Monuments Branch

1943-1962 Ministry of Works, Ancient Monuments Branch

1953 Historic Buildings Council for Wales

1953-1984 Historic Buildings Council for England

1962-1969 Ministry of Public Building and Works, Ancient Monuments Branch

1969-1970 Ministry of Public Building and Works, Directorate of Ancient Monuments and Special Services

1969-1991 Welsh Office, Ancient Monuments Branch

1970-1972 Department of the Environment, Directorate of Ancient Monuments and Special Services

1972-1987 Department of the Environment, Directorate of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings

1984 Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England

DevelopmentDevelopment

The Historic Environment RecordThe Historic Environment Record

• Historic Environment Records (sometimes Historic Environment Records (sometimes referred to as Sites and Monuments Records) referred to as Sites and Monuments Records) may be held by County Councils, District may be held by County Councils, District Councils or Unitary Authorities.Councils or Unitary Authorities.

• Selected major historic towns and cities are Selected major historic towns and cities are covered by Urban Archaeological Databases covered by Urban Archaeological Databases (UADs). (UADs).

The National Monuments RecordThe National Monuments Record

• ““The national archive of the historic The national archive of the historic environment of England.”environment of England.”

• Based in SwindonBased in Swindon

• Accessible through:Accessible through:

www.heritagegateway.org.ukwww.heritagegateway.org.uk

www.english-heritage.org.ukwww.english-heritage.org.uk

Kent HERKent HER

• Exploring Kent's PastExploring Kent's Past

• Simple searchSimple search

• Advanced searchAdvanced search

• Map Search Map Search

• Example: “Folkestone”Example: “Folkestone”• FolkestoneFolkestone• PillboxPillbox