Historic environment records

Historic Environment Records (HER’s), previously known as Sites and Monuments Records, provide access to historic information about buildings, monuments, places and sites of archaeological finds. They are held and maintained by county councils, district councils, unitary authorities, national parks and landowners such as the National Trust.

HER’s are digital databases that cover the whole area of the authority, providing sources of, and signposts to, information, which may be mapped across the area using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). They can be used for planning, development control and for educational purposes. They are also used by statutory undertakers and developers and may be consulted by the public.

They typically record monuments, events, sources and archives. They may also include reference collections such as archaeological reports, building investigations and so on.

There are more than 80 HERs in England, a list of which is maintained by Heritage Gateway.

Some major historic towns and cities will have an Urban Archaeological Database (UAD), which may be held as part of the local Historic Environment Record.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in December 2024, defines a historic environment record as: ‘Information services that seek to provide access to comprehensive and dynamic resources relating to the historic environment of a defined geographic area for public benefit and use.’

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Archaeology and construction.
• Building Preservation Notice.
• Conservation area.
• Conservation officer.
• Designated areas.
• Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 and listed buildings.
• Heritage partnership agreement.
• Historic England.
• Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
• Listed building.
• Planning authority duty to provide specialist conservation advice.
• Scheduled monuments.
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
• What data should be incorporated into Historic Environment Records.