Cheshire Historic Environment Record
Consult the Cheshire Historic Environment Record
General HER enquiries
For general (non-commercial) enquiries we would recommend first consulting the following online resources:
- Many of the Cheshire HER
records are published online and can be searched using the Heritage Gateway website - Historic Maps and aerial photographs of the historic county of Cheshire can be viewed using the Cheshire Tithes website
- Copies of eighteenth and nineteenth century maps of Cheshire, including historic Ordnance Survey maps, are published online by the National Library of Scotland
- Information on designated heritage assets (listed buildings, scheduled monuments etc.) is available via the Historic England website
Please note: the information supplied to the Heritage Gateway is a selection of the records held by the Cheshire HER and should not be considered definitive. Individuals and organisations requiring information for planning or development management purposes, the development of management policies, the preparation of agri-environment applications, desk-based assessments or EIAs, should contact us directly. hbsmradmin@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
The mapped depictions of nationally and locally designated heritage assets are available via Cheshire East Council’s and our Public Map Viewers.
If you have an enquiry that cannot be answered using the Heritage Gateway or other online resources listed, you can contact the HER officers to request a search.
No charge is made for members of the public requiring Historic Environment Record information for non‐commercial purposes.
Commercial enquiries
If you need to access the Historic Environment Record for professional use, such as for development management, environmental impact assessments, the development of management policies, for the preparation of agri-environment applications or large research projects, you should contact the Historic Environment Record directly. Where possible, all searches are returned by email within fifteen working days of receipt.
Please note: the Historic Environment Record does not operate a priority search service.
HER information is supplied in pdf format for text data and ArcGIS shape-files (GIS data) for the associated spatial data. The majority of the spatial data is classified as an Ordnance Survey derived dataset and an Ordnance Survey Licence may be required. If you do not have access to GIS or require datasets in an alternative format, please contact us directly to discuss your requirements. Such requests will be treated as custom searches.
For commercial enquiries, please include the following in your search request:
- A description of the search required
- GIS data or location map or central grid reference for your area of interest
- The radius of search required i.e. 1km
- Invoice address and purchase order number
Searches and charges
This search includes all relevant information (Monuments, Events, Designations and Historic Landscape Character) within a given search area; typically, up to a 1km search radius. For areas with a greater density of information, i.e. towns and the area covered by the Chester Urban Archaeological Database, the search area will be smaller, but sufficient for most cultural heritage assessments.
| Area | Standard Search |
|---|---|
| Chester UAD | Up to c.4ha (100m search radius) |
| Other urban area | Up to c.80ha (500m search radius) |
| Rural area | Up to c.315ha (1km search radius) |
Cost
£75
Includes the same level of information as the standard search, but for those requiring a larger search area, typically up to 2km. For areas with a greater density of information, i.e. towns and the area covered by the Chester UAD the search area will be smaller.
| Area | Extended Search |
|---|---|
| Chester UAD | Up to c.20ha (250m search radius) |
| Other urban area | Up to c.315ha (1km search radius) |
| Rural area | Up to c.1256ha (2km search radius) |
Cost
£150
For those with specialist requirements such as large search areas, specific search parameters or output formats i.e. maps.
Cost
Price on application
The charges cover a licence to reuse HER information for commercial purposes. Large research projects are advised to contact the HER to discuss their requirements, and a licence charge may be applicable. No charge is made for any follow up visits to view aerial photographs, reports etc. Please note VAT is not payable on HER charges.
Forestry and Agri-environment Schemes
Consultations for the purposes of woodland grant schemes and Countryside Stewardship Historic Environment Farm Environment Records (HEFERs) are governed by the service standards, protocols and charges agreed between the administrating organisations and the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers more information can be found on the Algao website. Please refer to your application handbook for further information.
Academic and Other Research Projects
Large and/or complex searches required for research projects may fall under the Custom search category and may incur a charge at the appropriate rate. Undergraduate and post graduate research (i.e. dissertations) are typically treated as non-commercial enquiries.
Privacy
Any enquiry to the Historic Environment Record will be treated as confidential. While making an enquiry we may collect a small quantity of personal information when you provide it to us, such as contact details and details of the enquiry. This information is used in an aggregated and anonymous form for the purpose of the Archaeology Planning Advisory Service’s annual reports and to enable your enquiry to be fulfilled. This information will never be shared with third parties. For further information see our Privacy policy page.
Please note, that by accepting the information supplied by the HER, you agree to the terms and conditions outlined in our Conditions of Use.
Contact us
- Post: Cheshire Historic Environment Record, Total Environment, HQ, Nicholas Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2NP
- Phone: 01244 973667 or 01244 977812
- Email: hbsmradmin@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
