Historic Environment Scotland (HES) (Scottish Gaelic: Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba) is an executive non-departmental public body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment. HES was formed in 2015 from the merger of government agency Historic Scotland with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS). Among other duties, Historic Environment Scotland maintains more than 300 properties of national importance including Edinburgh Castle, Skara Brae and Fort George.
| Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba | |
 | |
 Longmore House in Edinburgh, headquarters of Historic Environment Scotland | |
| Organisation overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 October 2015 |
| Preceding agencies |
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| Type | Non-departmental public body |
| Jurisdiction | Scotland |
| Headquarters | Longmore House Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Employees | 1,500+ (incl. volunteers) |
| Minister responsible |
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| Organisation executives |
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| Website | www |
History
The responsibilities of HES were formerly split between Historic Scotland, a government agency responsible for properties of national importance, and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), which collected and managed records about Scotland's historic environment. Under the terms of a Bill of the Scottish Parliament published on 3 March 2014, the pair were dissolved and their functions transferred to Historic Environment Scotland, on 1 October 2015.
Historic Environment Scotland is a non-departmental public body with charitable status, governed by a board of trustees appointed by the Scottish Ministers. The body is charged with implementing "Our Place in Time", Scotland's historic environment strategy, and has responsibility for buildings and monuments in state care, as well as national collections of manuscripts, drawings and photographs. Beyond these collections, Historic Environment Scotland provides funding and guidance for conservation works and education across Scotland.
Canmore is an online database maintained by Historic Environment Scotland since 2015. Previously it was maintained by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The National Collection of Aerial Photography is also now a sub-brand of HES.
See also
- List of Historic Environment Scotland properties
- Listed buildings in Scotland
- Scheduled monument
- Scottish Ten
- NatureScot
- National Trust for Scotland
- Who Built Scotland: A History of the Nation in Twenty-Five Buildings
- Organisations which play a similar role to HES in the other countries of the United Kingdom:
- Cadw and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
- Historic England and English Heritage
- The Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland (previously part of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency)
References
- "A new lead public body for the historic environment" (PDF). Historic Environment Scotland.
- "Historic Environment Scotland Bill". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- McKenzie, Steven (30 September 2015). "Monuments body RCAHMS produces final report ahead of merger". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016.
- "About Historic Environment Scotland". Historic Environment Scotland.
- "National Collection of Aerial Photography". www.historicenvironment.scot. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
External links
- Official website
Historic Environment Scotland HES Scottish Gaelic Arainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba is an executive non departmental public body responsible for investigating caring for and promoting Scotland s historic environment HES was formed in 2015 from the merger of government agency Historic Scotland with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland RCAHMS Among other duties Historic Environment Scotland maintains more than 300 properties of national importance including Edinburgh Castle Skara Brae and Fort George Historic Environment ScotlandArainneachd Eachdraidheil AlbaLongmore House in Edinburgh headquarters of Historic Environment ScotlandOrganisation overviewFormed1 October 2015 9 years ago 2015 10 01 Preceding agenciesHistoric ScotlandRoyal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of ScotlandTypeNon departmental public bodyJurisdictionScotlandHeadquartersLongmore House Edinburgh ScotlandEmployees1 500 incl volunteers Minister responsibleAngus Robertson MSP Cabinet Secretary for CultureOrganisation executivesHugh Hall ChairmanKaterina Brown Chief ExecutiveWebsitewww wbr historicenvironment wbr scotHistoryThe responsibilities of HES were formerly split between Historic Scotland a government agency responsible for properties of national importance and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland RCAHMS which collected and managed records about Scotland s historic environment Under the terms of a Bill of the Scottish Parliament published on 3 March 2014 the pair were dissolved and their functions transferred to Historic Environment Scotland on 1 October 2015 Historic Environment Scotland is a non departmental public body with charitable status governed by a board of trustees appointed by the Scottish Ministers The body is charged with implementing Our Place in Time Scotland s historic environment strategy and has responsibility for buildings and monuments in state care as well as national collections of manuscripts drawings and photographs Beyond these collections Historic Environment Scotland provides funding and guidance for conservation works and education across Scotland Canmore is an online database maintained by Historic Environment Scotland since 2015 Previously it was maintained by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland The National Collection of Aerial Photography is also now a sub brand of HES See alsoList of Historic Environment Scotland properties Listed buildings in Scotland Scheduled monument Scottish Ten NatureScot National Trust for Scotland Who Built Scotland A History of the Nation in Twenty Five Buildings Organisations which play a similar role to HES in the other countries of the United Kingdom Cadw and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales Historic England and English Heritage The Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland previously part of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency References A new lead public body for the historic environment PDF Historic Environment Scotland Historic Environment Scotland Bill Scottish Parliament Retrieved 6 July 2014 McKenzie Steven 30 September 2015 Monuments body RCAHMS produces final report ahead of merger BBC News Archived from the original on 15 September 2016 About Historic Environment Scotland Historic Environment Scotland National Collection of Aerial Photography www historicenvironment scot Retrieved 4 January 2022 External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to Historic Environment Scotland Official website
