English Heritage (officially the Historic Buildings and
Monuments Commission for England)[1]
is an executive
non-departmental public body of the
British Government sponsored by the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). By advising on the
care of the historic environment in England, English Heritage
complements the work of
Natural England which aims to protect the
natural environment. It has a broad remit of managing the historic
environment of England and advises the relevant
Secretary of State on policy and in individual cases such as
registering
listed buildings and
scheduled ancient monuments.
Simon Thurley has been chief executive since 2002.
It was set up under the terms of the
National Heritage Act 1983. Its functions for maintaining ancient
monuments had previously been undertaken by part of the
Department of the Environment which was the successor to the
Ministry of Works. The 1983 Act also dissolved the bodies that had
hitherto provided independent advice — the
Ancient Monuments Board for England and the
Historic Buildings Council for England and incorporated these
functions in the new body. Another advisory body, the
Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME) was
not merged with English Heritage until 1 April 1999.[2]
English Heritage's best known role is as the steward of over 400
significant historical and archaeological sites, from
Stonehenge to the world's earliest
iron bridge. It has direct ownership over some historic sites and
also liaises with private owners of sites that are managed under
guardianship arrangements. It has major responsibilities in
conservation, giving advice, registering and protecting the historic
environment. It also maintains a public archive, the English Heritage
Archive, formerly known as the
National Monuments Record (NMR).
History
English Heritage (The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for
England) is a non-departmental public body which manages the historic
built environment of England. Today it is an executive agency of the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The latter was
formed in 1997.[3]
Over the centuries, what is now called 'heritage' has been the
responsibility of a series of State Departments. There was the 'Kings
Works' after the
Norman Conquest; the 'Office
of Works' (1378-1832); The
Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues and Works (1832–1851); and
the
Ministry of Works (1851–1962). Responsibility subsequently
transferred to the
Ministry of Public Building and Works (1962–1970) then to the
Department of the Environment (UK) (1970–1997) and now the DCMS.[4]
The state's legal responsibility for the historic environment goes back
to the
Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1882.[5]
Central government subsequently developed several systems of heritage
protection for different types of 'assets', introducing listing for
buildings after WW2 and conservation areas in the 1960s. In 1983
Secretary of State for the Environment
Michael Heseltine gave national responsibility for the historic
environment to a semi‑autonomous agency (or 'quango')
to operate under ministerial guidelines and to government policy. The
Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (now known as English
Heritage) was formed.[6]
Since then it has amalgamated with other bodies and archives to
become the lead body for the heritage sector.
A
national register of historic parks and gardens, (e.g.
Rangers House, Greenwich) was set up in 1984,[7]
and a register for historic battlefields (e.g. the
battle of Tewkesbury) was created in March 1995.[8]
‘Registration’ is a material consideration in the planning process. In
April 1999 English Heritage merged with the
Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME) and
the
National Monuments Record (NMR), bringing together resources for the
identification and survey of England’s historic environment. By adoption
this included responsibility for the national record of archaeological
sites from the
Ordnance Survey; the National Library of Aerial Photographs, and two
million RAF and Ordnance Survey aerial photographs. These, together with
other nationally important external acquisitions, means that English
Heritage is one of the largest publicly accessible archives in the UK:
2.53 million records are available online, including more than 426,000
images. In 2010-2011 it recorded 4.3 million unique online user sessions[9]
and over 110,000 people visited NMR exhibitions held around the country
in 2009/10 .[10]
In 2012 the section responsible for archive collections was renamed the
English Heritage Archive.
As a result of the
National Heritage Act 2002, English Heritage acquired administrative
responsibility for historic wrecks and submerged landscapes within 12
miles of the English coast.[11]
The administration of the
listed building system was transferred from DCMS to English Heritage
in 2006. However, actual listing decisions still remain the
responsibility of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport,
who is required by the
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to
approve a list of buildings of special architectural or historic
interest.
Following the Public Bodies Reform[12]
(aka ‘bonfire of the quangos’) in 2010, English Heritage was confirmed
as the government's statutory advisor on the historic environment, and
the largest source of non-lottery grant funding for heritage assets.[13]
It was retained on grounds of “performing a technical function which
should remain independent from Government”.
English Heritage is only one of several of government sponsored
organisations with responsibility for the historic environment.[14]
This reflects the length of time that heritage has been legally
protected, the number of government reorganisations, and the importance
of heritage to the UK economy and society. Local government plays an
important role in making conservation decisions locally and keeping
local
Historic Environment Records (HERs).
Purpose and remit
English Heritage is the UK Government’s statutory adviser and a
statutory consultee on all aspects of the historic environment and its
heritage assets.[15]
This includes archaeology on land and under water, historic buildings
sites and areas, designated landscapes and the historic elements of the
wider landscape.[16]
It monitors and reports on the state of England’s heritage and publishes
the annual the
Heritage at Risk survey which is one of the UK Government's
Official statistics. It is tasked to secure the preservation and
enhancement of the man-made heritage of England for the benefit of
future generations.[16]
Its remit involves:
-
- Directly managing the national collection of sites,
monuments, archive records and photographs taken into state care
since the 1880s.
- Giving grants national and local organisations for the
conservation of historic buildings, monuments and landscapes. In
2010/11 it made grant offers worth £34.8 million to support
heritage buildings.[9]
- Advising central UK government on which English heritage
assets are nationally important and should be protected by
designation (i.e. listing, scheduling etc.).[17][18]
In 2009-10 it advised on about 2,000 requests for listing, and
processed 14,072 applications affecting Grade I and II* listed
buildings, 97% of which were dealt with within the agreed
deadline.[10]
In 2010-11 the annual report states that it was consulted on
17,302 planning cases.[9]
- Administering and maintaining the register of England's
listed buildings,
scheduled monuments, registered battlefields,
conservation areas and protected parks and gardens.[19]
This is published as an online resource as 'The
National Heritage List for England'.
- Administering the
Blue Plaques scheme in London since 1986.[20][21]
- Advising local authorities on managing changes to the most
important parts of heritage.
- Providing expertise through advice, training and guidance to
improve the standards and skills of people working in heritage,
practical conservation and access to resources. In 2009-2010 it
trained around 2,500 professionals working in local authorities
and the wider sector.[10]
- Consulting and collaborating with other heritage bodies,
local and national planning organisations e.g. the preparation
of Planning Policy statement for the Historic Environment (PPS5)
[22]
- Commissioning and conducting archaeological research,
including the publication of ‘Heritage Counts’ and ‘Heritage
at Risk’ on behalf of the heritage sector which are the
annual research surveys into the state of England's heritage.
It is not responsible for approving alterations to
listed buildings. The management of listed buildings is the
responsibility of local planning authorities and the
Department for Communities and Local Government.[22]
Properties
Stonehenge, one of English Heritage's most famous sites
English Heritage is the guardian of over 400 sites and monuments, the
most famous of which include
Stonehenge,
Iron Bridge and
Dover Castle. Whilst many have an entry charge, more than 250
properties are free to enter[23]
including
Maiden Castle, Dorset and
St Catherine's Oratory.
The properties are part of the portfolio of over 880 sites amassed by
the British Government between the 1880s and the 1970s to form the
National Collection of built and archaeological heritage. (The balance
is in the care of
Historic Scotland and
CADW.) These sites represent a deliberate attempt by the state in
the 19th and early 20th century to take the nation’s most significant
prehistoric sites and medieval sites, which were no longer in active
use, into public ownership.[24]
This national property collection performs the same function as pictures
in the
National Gallery and the archaeological material in the
British Museum.
Unlike the
National Trust, English Heritage holds few furnished properties. New
sites are rarely added to the collection as other charities and
institutions are now encouraged to care for them and open them to the
public.[24]
The properties are held by English Heritage under various
arrangements. The majority are in the guardianship of the Secretary of
State for the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport with the freehold being
retained by the owner. The remaining properties are either owned by
English Heritage, other government departments or the
Crown Estate.[10]
In 2010-2011 there were 5.5 million visits to staffed properties, an
estimated 6 million visits to unstaffed sites and a further 32,340 free
educational visits.[9]
Funding
English Heritage is a
non-departmental public body, or
quango,
with most of its funding derived from taxation. In 2010-2011, English
Heritage had a total income of £184.7 million. Of this, 70% came from
government through
grant-in-aid. Earned income of £49.8m accounted for 27% of revenue –
£14.3m from property admissions; £12.1m from catering and retail; £18.8m
from membership; and £4.7m from other sources. The balance came from
donations and grants.[9]
Following the budget review in October 2010, the Government announced
a 32% cut in the grant to English Heritage. Since 1997 it has received
cuts in its grant-in-aid settlement, resulting in a real terms reduction
of £130m.[25]
Membership
Members of the public are able and encouraged to join English
Heritage. Membership provides benefits such as free admission to its
properties and member-only events.[26]
In 2010-2011 there were 1,026,000 members.[9]
Membership does not convey voting rights or influence over the way
English Heritage is run.
Participation in consultations and web-based surveys facilitated by
English Heritage is not restricted to its membership.[27]
It invites various groups and members of the public to give views on
specific issues, most notably in recent years, about the
Stonehenge road tunnel project proposals.
Volunteering
The organisation welcomes volunteers. Roles range from room
stewarding, running education workshops and gardening, to curatorial
cleaning and research.[28]
In 2009-2010 volunteers contributed over 8,022 hours of work to English
Heritage.[10]
How
English Heritage is run
The Commission is the governing board of English Heritage. Since July
2009 this has been chaired by Baroness Andrews.[29]
The Commission provides the strategic direction of the organisation
within the policy and resources framework agreed with Government. There
are 17 people on the Commission including Professor Sir
Barry Cunliffe CBE, Ms Maria Adebowale and John Walker CBE.[30]
Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of State for the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Meeting minutes are
published on the English Heritage web site.
The Commission delegates operational management to the Chief
Executive, Dr
Simon Thurley, who was appointed in 2002.[31]
The Chief Executive is supported by an Executive Board of four
directors. In addition, there is a range of advisory committees and
panels which advise on and administer specialist areas. For example: The
London Advisory Committee, Battlefields Panel and Urban Panel.[32]
In 2010-2011 English Heritage employed 2013 FTE staff.[9]
It has a ‘Planning Charter’ which explains the role of English
Heritage in the planning system. The charter includes information on how
it deals with requests for pre-application and statutory advice; and the
advisory service on policy and management issues relating to the
planning process.[33]
It has also published the principles on which its conservation advice is
based.[34]
Images of England
-
Images of England was an English Heritage project intended to create
a freely accessible online database of the 370,000
listed properties in England at a snapshot in time at the turn of
the millennium. Each database entry includes a representative photograph
and a description of the building written by an expert architectural
historian. The project is now closed and only those properties that were
designated as at February 2001 are recorded.
Controversies
English Heritage sites in Cornwall
In 1999 there was some controversy regarding sites in Cornwall under
the care of English Heritage. The pressure group, the
Revived Cornish Stannary Parliament wrote to English Heritage asking
them to remove all signs bearing their name from
Cornish
sites by July 1999 as they regard the ancient sites as Cornish heritage,
not English. Over eleven months members of the Cornish Stannary removed
18 signs and a letter was sent to English Heritage saying "The signs
have been confiscated and held as evidence of English cultural
aggression in Cornwall. Such racially motivated signs are deeply
offensive and cause distress to many Cornish people". On 18 January
2002, at Truro Crown Court, after the prosecution successfully applied
for a Public Immunity Certificate in order to suppress defence evidence
(these are normally issued in cases involving national security), three
members of the group agreed to return the signs and pay £4,500 in
compensation to English Heritage and to be bound over to keep the peace.
In return, the prosecution dropped charges of conspiracy to cause
criminal damage.[35]
In 2011 Conservative MP
George Eustice stated that Cornish heritage "is not English" and
that there is "a growing feeling that Cornwall should have its own
heritage organisation, taking over from English Heritage."[36]
He suggests that English heritage be replaced "with a Cornish Heritage
group, just like they have for instance in Wales and Scotland."[37]
Culture Secretary
Jeremy Hunt has been called upon to give cash to a new autonomous
body in Cornwall by "top slicing" English Heritage's budget.[38]
Fortress House
The former London headquarters of English Heritage at 23
Savile Row, now demolished
In 2006, The
Secretary of State at the DCMS issued a certificate of exemption
from listing for Fortress House, the then English Heritage headquarters.[39]
In 2009, it was demolished and the site redeveloped for a commercial
office building.[40]
Central London high rise development
English Heritage is often criticised by property developers and
citizens for being 'anti-progressive' in the way it treats high rise
development in
central London.[41]
This has been apparent with numerous new buildings - most notably
skyscrapers such as
The Shard, and the
Heron Tower.
Photography
In 2010 the organisation sent an email to open access photograph
agency
fotoLibra, attempting to ban the unauthorised commercial use of
photographs of
Stonehenge. A subsequent statement of regret was issued, clarifying
that "We do not control the copyright of all images of Stonehenge and
have never tried to do so." The organisation added that they request
that commercial photographers pay fees and abide by certain conditions.[42]
Equivalent
organisations
See also
References
-
^
Who We Are About Us English Heritage
-
^
Conservation Bulletin, Issue 35, April 1999
-
^
"English Heritage (The Historic Buildings and Monuments
Commission for England)".
Retrieved 13 May 2011.
-
^ English Heritage
leaflet "The evolution of the National Monument Record"
-
^
"AMA-1882 Ancient Monuments Act".
Retrieved 13 May 2011.
-
^
"National Heritage Act 1983".
Retrieved 13 May 2011.
-
^ Historic Buildings
and Monuments Commission for England: "Report and Accounts
1983-1985" p26
-
^ English Heritage
Annual Report and Accounts "Working in Partnership" 1994/1995 p
6 & 41
-
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
"English Heritage Annual Report 2010-2011". English Heritage.
Retrieved 15 July 2011.
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^
a
b
c
d
e
English Heritage 2009-2010 Annual
Report and Accounts
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^
"National Heritage Act 2002".
Retrieved 13 May 2011.
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^
"Public Bodies Reform – Proposals For Change".
Retrieved 13 May 2011.
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^
"Historic Environment".
Retrieved 13 May 2011.
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^
"Protecting the Historic Environment".
Retrieved 13 May 2011.
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^
"Historic Environment".
Retrieved 16 May 2011.
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^
a
b
"Funding of the Arts and Heritage".
Retrieved 16 May 2011.
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^
"Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979".
Retrieved 16 May 2011.
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^
"National Heritage Act 1983, Historic Buildings and Monuments
Commission for England".
Retrieved 16 May 2011.
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^
"Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990".
Retrieved 16 May 2011.
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^
"The commemoration of historians under the blue plaque scheme in
London". Retrieved 16 May
2011.
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^
"Local Government Act 1985, Schedule 2 Listed buildings,
conservation areas and ancient monuments".
Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ^
a
b
"Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic
Environment". Retrieved
16 May 2011.
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^
"See English Heritage history for free".
Retrieved 10 May 2011.
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^
a
b
"English Heritage Information Pack 2010".
Retrieved 10 May 2011.
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^
"Funding of the Arts and Heritage". UK Parliament.
Retrieved 6 May 2011.
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^
"Member benefits". English Heritage.
Retrieved 6 May 2011.
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^
"Consultations". English Heritage.
Retrieved 6 May 2011.
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^
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/get-involved/volunteering/
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^
"Baroness Andrews".
Retrieved 10 May 2011.
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^
"Commission". Retrieved
10 May 2011.
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^
Worsley, Giles (14 December 2001).
"A buildings man among bureaucrats". The Daily Telegraph
(London). Retrieved 10 May
2011.
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^
"Committees and Panels".
Retrieved 10 May 2011.
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^
"Planning Charter".
Retrieved 10 May 2011.
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^
"Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance".
Retrieved 11 May 2011.
-
^
"Historic signs case trio bound over". BBC News. 18 January
2002. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
-
^
"Heritage is not English; it's ours". This is Cornwall.
September 29, 2011. Retrieved
17 March 2013.
-
^
"Cornish MP is critical of English Heritage". BBC News. 11
October 2011. Retrieved 17
March 2013.
-
^
"MP calls for 'Cornish Heritage' to replace English body".
This is Cornwall. October 11, 2011.
Retrieved 17 March 2013.
-
^
Joseph Mirwitch (May 2006).
"Fortress House Threatened". The Twentieth Century Society.
Retrieved 17 March 2013.
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^
"A new suit on Savile Row". Mace.
Retrieved 17 March 2013.
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^
Rowan Moore (30 September 2008).
"Commentary: English Heritage is taking on its paymasters".
London Evening Standard.
Retrieved 17 March 2013.
-
^
Cheesman, Chris (October 22, 2010).
"Stonehenge bosses 'regret' photography ban (update)".
Amateur Photographer.
Retrieved October 27, 2011. "The storm centred on a
message sent to picture agency fotoLibra which read: 'We are
sending you an email regarding images of Stonehenge on your
fotoLibra website. [...] The statement, published on the English
Heritage website, adds: 'We do not control the copyright of all
images of Stonehenge and have never tried to do so. [...] 'If a
commercial photographer enters the land within our care with the
intention of taking a photograph of the monument for financial
gain, we ask that they pay a fee and abide by certain
conditions."
External links