Archaeology and the Sites and Monuments Record

Herefordshire Archaeology

Herefordshire Archaeology is the archaeology service of Herefordshire Council. It exists to investigate, record, document, conserve and promote the archaeology and historic landscapes of Herefordshire.

Herefordshire is often described as "England's most rural county". Its man-made heritage includes rock shelters high above the river Wye; the forts and tombs of the earliest farmers; the landscapes of fields and farmsteads, stretching back three millennia; the sites of the first towns, forts and planned settlements of an era when Britain was part of the vast Roman Empire; clues about British and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms before the Norman Conquest; and remains of the medieval county, from its churches, monasteries and lordly castles, to its towns, villages, fields and forests. Above all, Herefordshire's past shapes your entire environment. The whole landscape you traverse is like a document, its history inscribed in the fabric of fields, settlements and by-ways.

All Herefordshire Archaeology staff members are engaged in work that aims to raise public awareness and appreciation of the county's archaeology and historic landscape. A full events calendar is organised, including an annual symposium, monthly historic landscape walks, and public talks. A series of archaeological project summaries and reports is produced each year. Our newsletter, Historic Environment Today, is published twice a year and is available by email, on our Herefordshire Through Time website and by post.

The County Archaeologist, who directs the service, can be contacted on (01432) 383351.

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Sites and Monuments Record Database

The SMR is a record of all known historical and archaeological sites in Herefordshire. Each site has a unique reference number (its SMR number), a site name and location, a brief description and a list of references to the site. The strength of the record is that it is a computerised database. This means the searcher can query the database for combinations (e.g. all Iron Age sites in the parish of Garway, information about the castle at Weobley) and obtain instant results. The speed and ability to query the database makes the SMR a powerful research tool, which is used by professional archaeologists, researchers, students and members of the public alike.

For further information about the SMR, visit the SMR section of our website. The website has been developed from the original Historic Herefordshire On Line project, which was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and features information on a wide range of historical topics relating to the county, as well as enabling users to search the database, including the main SMR monuments database and a field-names database. There is also a news section and information on forthcoming Herefordshire Archaeology events.

The Sites and Monuments Record Officer can be contacted on (01432) 260130.

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Archaeology and communities

Our Archaeological Projects Officer and Community Archaeologist deliver much of our service agenda for investigation and recording (including survey and excavation), research, outreach, interpretation and working with local communities. They can also provide advice to groups applying for funding for archaeological projects from grant-making bodies.

The Archaeological Projects Officer can be contacted on (01432) 383352 and the Community Archaeologist can be contacted on (01432) 260493.

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Historic landscape

Herefordshire Archaeology provides advice on the protection, exploration, recording and promotion of Herefordshire's historic landscapes.

With the support of English Heritage, a Historic Landscape Characterisation map of the county was produced in 2002. This project identified and mapped the age of the present-day cultural landscape, primarily using field shapes. This is available through the service on request. It is required that applications for new developments consider the impact on the historic landscape in their proposals.

For further information on the Historic Landscape Characterisation, and to request access to data from it, contact the Sites and Monuments Record at smrenquiries@herefordshire.gov.uk.

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Archaeology and development

Herefordshire Archaeology provides development advice about the conservation, care and management of the county's archaeology and historic landscapes. This advice extends to a wide variety of works and their impact on the historic environment. So, if you are intending development works that involve seeking planning permission, are engaged in new agricultural or forestry operations, or are providing new services from water resources to energy supply, you are encouraged to consult us at an early stage of planning your works.

The Archaeological Advisor advises on the impacts of intended works and how to minimise them, prepares briefs for archaeological recording projects, and monitors the conduct of those projects.

Herefordshire Archaeology also administers and is the investigating Authority for the Hereford City Area of Archaeological Importance (AAI). A Notification and Certificate are required for all below-ground works within this area. Downloadable copies of these documents in pdf format are available on the Information for contractors page of the Herefordshire Through Time website, along with further information on the AAI.

For more information on Archaeology and Development, contact the Archaeological Adviser on (01432) 383350.

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Archaeology and the rural environment

Herefordshire Archaeology also provides advice and support in the conservation, care and management of sites and monuments in the rural landscape. This covers a wide range of activities, including the provision of advice to agri-environmental schemes (Environmental Stewardship), on new tree planting and felling operations, on monument management and on proposals outside the planning process.

This advisory service prepares the historic environment input to Farm Environment Plans and can help prepare monument management plans.

For more information on monuments and the landscape, contact the Countryside Adviser (Archaeology) on (01432) 260351.

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