The Historic Environment Record

The follwing notes have been contributed by Norman Redhead, the County Archaeologist for the Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit and explain the national development of the Historic Environment Record (Previously known as Sites and Monument Record).

Archaeological Records:

are held variously by:
National Monuments Record
County SMRs/HERs
Unitary Authority SMRs/HERs
National Parks
National Trust
Museums

The responsibility for identifying, cataloguing and protecting archaeological sites

rests with archaeologists who manage (or curate) the archaeological resource on behalf of national agencies (such as English Heritage) or County Councils and Local Authorities.

A typical archaeology service at a county council would be:

County Archaeologist: strategy/policy advice and implementation
Sites and Monuments Record Officer/Historic Environment Record Officer: maintains archaeological database and provides data to consultants/enquirers
Development Control Officer: planning advice, monitoring archaeological contractors
Clerical/IT support staff.
Well funded set-ups could have additional HER and Planning staff.

Heritage Management Archaeologists

Belong to the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers. For more information on their roles and structure visit: www.algao.org.uk

In 1999 there were 93 archaeology units, 123 archaeological consultants and 98 curatorial bodies operating in England. By 2002 there were around 5700 jobs in archaeology contributing c £100 million to the UK economy per annum. 387 archaeologists were working in local authorities in 2004. Membership of the Institute of Field Archaeologists stood at just over 2000 in early 2006. Source: Archaeology Labour Market Intelligence. Profiling the Profession 2002/3. See IFA website www.archaeologists.net

Archaeology in England – some statistics

In 1995 there were 657,000 records held by 57 local SMRs based in county, district, borough, city or National Park authorities in England. This represents an increase of 117% on a the situation a decade earlier, and shows an accretion rate of nearly 100 entries per day across the country. The increase in record archaeological sites has accelerated in recent years so that by 2004 there were 1,430,000 entries held by around 100 SMRs/HERs.

Between 1945 and 1995 key causes of destruction/damage to archaeological monuments were: Development/urbanization (of monuments destroyed this category accounted for 27% total loss and 9% piecemeal loss), demolition and building alterations (20% and 16%), cultivation (10% and 30%), mineral extraction (12% and 3%), road building (9% and 4%), and natural processes/erosion (5% and 24%). Source: Monuments at Risk Survey 1995.

Other useful websites:
www.appag.org.uk All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group provides overview of the state of British archaeology with recommendations for improvements.

www.bajr.org British Archaeology Jobs Resource has guidance on archaeology and planning, follow links for developer aid then archaeology legislation & guidance. All sorts of pdf documents can be downloaded relating to English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish practice and legislation relating to archaeology and the historic environment.

www.britarch.ac.uk/conserve/planning Council for British Archaeology website is excellent for keeping up to date with what’s happening in archaeology and has excellent factsheet series on archaeology and planning.

www.english-heritage.org.uk Links to the National Monuments Record information service and has lists of free English Heritage publications on various aspects of archaeology, historic environment and conservation best practice.

www.cadw.wales.gov.uk The national Welsh heritage agency.

www.historic-scotland.gov.uk The national Scottish heritage agency.

www.ehsni.gov.uk The national N.Ireland heritage agency.

The types of site entered onto SMRs/HERs include:

Monuments, Listed Buildings, Buildings, Landscapes, Findspots and Places

What are the sources for identifying archaeological sites to put on the SMR?

Ordnance Survey Record Cards
Scheduled Ancient Monument data
Listed Building descriptions
specific district enhancement funded by a Local Authority
museum archives
archaeological and local history publications
thematic surveys
aerial photographs
field walking
landscape surveys
national studies
Portable Antiquities Scheme metal detector finds
casual finds by members of the public
archaeological reports from commercial works: desk based assessments, excavations, evaluations, watching briefs and building surveys

There are several English Heritage sponsored national surveys relevant to SMRs/HERs

• Monuments Protection Programme: identifies new sites for Scheduling and reviews previous Schedules - originally based on county SMR data but in recent years also looking at industrial monuments

• Monuments at Risk Survey: undertaken by Bournemouth University 1994-1996 to examine the survival of archaeological monuments, structures and buildings since 1945 and their condition in 1995

• Urban Archaeological Database (Intensive Urban Surveys): maps nature, extent and potential of buried deposits in historic urban cores - a database is established to inform the development control process - this database is run parallel to SMR

• Extensive Urban Surveys: assesses potential archaeological remains in small towns/large villages across Shire counties, GIS mapping used to inform strategic planning and development control

• Historic Landscape Characterisation: broad based assessment of historic landscape types, identify defining characteristics that make up a landscape and evaluating the quality of preservation - will be used by planning authorities to ensure plan proposals are sympathetic to sustaining character of the local landscape

Planning and Policy Guidance No. 15 (1994) “Planning and the Historic Environment”

Provides a full statement of Government policies for the identification and protection of historic buildings, conservation areas and other elements of the historic environment in relation to the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act of 1990.

For an Introduction to the Greater Manchester Sites and Monuments Record and how it will be added to and used by the Mellor Heritage Project Please follow this link