Cheshire Historic Environment Record

The Cheshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the record of all known designated and non-designated archaeological sites and historic landscapes in Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington. It includes sites dating from prehistory through to the military remains of the more recent past.

The Cheshire HER contains information on buried sites, revealed through excavation and survey or through aerial photography. It also contains records of earthworks, listed buildings and other standing structures, as well as stray finds, historic parks and gardens, battlefields and information on historic landscape character.

Details such as the type of site, its date, location, description and sources are held on a database and linked geographical information system. Additional information may include reports on surveys or excavations, correspondence, plans, published and unpublished material and photographs (including aerial photographs).

The level of information and accuracy varies between records, depending on the available sources. Some sites are known only from 19th century or earlier chance discoveries and their exact location may be vague. Others are based on modern excavations or surveys which can produce much more detailed information.

The Cheshire HER is continually updated. Information on new sites and finds and additional details about existing sites are provided by professional archaeologists, museums, local researchers and members of the public. The significance of an archaeological site or historic building can therefore change as new information leads to its re-interpretation. In addition, the HER is reviewed in line with national data standards and developments in new technology.

Information from archaeological work carried out in the county, such as national surveys, developer-funded fieldwork or private research, is fed back into the HER.

The Cheshire HER includes the Chester Urban Archaeological Database, and the results of projects such as the Cheshire Historic Towns Survey and the Cheshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Project.

Designated heritage assets

Only a small proportion of all heritage assets are designated Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens and Registered Battlefields. Specific procedures apply for development which takes place within the boundaries of these protected sites or within their settings.

Find out more about designated sites on the Historic England website.

Details of these designated sites in Cheshire, Halton and Warrington are held in the Cheshire Historic Environment Record.

Tell us about a site

If you wish to submit information about a potential site for inclusion in the Historic Environment record, please email HBSMRadmin@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.