Everything about English Heritage totally explained
English Heritage is a
non-departmental public body of the
United Kingdom government (
Department for Culture, Media and Sport) with a broad remit of managing the historic environment of
England. It was set up under the terms of the
National Heritage Act 1983. Its functions had previously been undertaken by part of the
Department of the Environment. The 1983 Act also dissolved the body that had hitherto provided advice — the
Ancient Monuments Board for England. The former
Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME) was merged with English Heritage on 1 April 1999.
Its best known role is as the steward of a large number of significant historical and archaeological sites, from
Stonehenge to the world's earliest
iron bridge. However it has major responsibilities in conservation, giving advice, registering and protecting the historic environment. It also maintains a public archive, the
National Monuments Record (NMR).
Domain
By caring for the
built environment, English Heritage complements the work of
Natural England which aims to protect the
natural environment. Both advise the relevant
Secretary of State on policy and in individual cases such as registering
Listed buildings and
Scheduled Ancient Monuments in EH's case. English Heritage has direct ownership over some historic sites and also liaises with private owners of sites that are managed under guardianship arrangements.
English Heritage describes itself in these terms:
» "English Heritage is the Government's statutory adviser on the historic environment. Officially known as the
Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England, English Heritage is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body sponsored by the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Our powers and responsibilities are set out in the National Heritage Act (1983) and today we report to Parliament through the
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport."
English Heritage is thus an unelected
quango with a considerable degree of power and access to public money derived from taxation. At some of its properties it charges admission fees to supplement its government funding.
It may be contrasted with the
National Trust which is an independent registered charity operating in the same sector.
Membership
Members of the public are able, and encouraged, to join English Heritage. Membership confers benefits such as free admission to its properties. However, it doesn't give the member a say in the running of the organisation. This policy is common for similar organisations, such as the National Trust.
Images of England
»
Images of England is an English Heritage project intended to create a freely accessible online database of the 370,000
listed properties in England. Each database entry includes a representative photograph and a description of the building written by an expert architectural historian.
Controversy over English Heritage sites in Cornwall
In 1999 there was some controversy regarding sites in Cornwall under the care of
English Heritage. The
Revived Cornish Stannary Parliament (in fact not a parliament at all, but a pressure group) 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
January 18,
2002, at Truro Crown Court, 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.
Many other signs of English Heritage in Cornwall have been vandalised.
Equivalent organisations
Further Information
Get more info on 'English Heritage'.
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