Archaeological sites and monuments

Herefordshire Archaeology

The County Archaeology Service exists to investigate, record, document, conserve and promote the archaeology and historic landscapes of Herefordshire.

An Archaeology Strategy was adopted by the Council in October 2004 for the period 2004-2007. It is supported by a Strategic Plan for the period and a Service Handbook.

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

Area Of Archaeological Importance Certificate

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

Conservation And Development

Herefordshire Archaeology provides advice about the conservation, care and management of the county's archaeological sites, monuments and landscapes. This advice extends to a wide variety of works and their impact upon 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.

Historic Landscape

Herefordshire Archaeology exists to protect, to explore, to record, to promote and to celebrate the extensive historic sites and landscapes of 'England's most rural county'.

This 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.

Herefordshire Archaeology with English Heritage has carried out an Historic Landscape Character Assessment of the whole county. This project identified and mapped the age of the present-day cultural landscape, primarily using field shapes. This project was completed at the end of Spring 2002, and a report appeared in 2004, initiating the publication series Herefordshire Studies in Archaeology.

Help Herefordshire Archaeology to help you value the cultural inheritance. Become a member of our community contacts network ands 'Subscribe' to the Historic Environment Today newsletter, which appears four times a year. All you need to do is send us an SAE for each issue to: -

Herefordshire Archaeology, (HET),
Herefordshire Council, Conservation and Environmental Planning
PO Box 144, Hereford HR1 2YH

For more information contact the Landscape Archaeologist on tel: (01432) 383353.

Advice and the Rural Environment

This service provides advice and assistance in the identification, survey and recording of sites and monuments in the landscape. For local societies and especially community amenity groups the service will carry out site inspections and earth work and field surveys.

For more information on Monuments and the Landscape contact the Countryside Adviser (Archaeology) on tel: (01432) 260351.

Herefordshire Archaeology and Other Organisations

Herefordshire Archaeology provides contact with a wide range of other organisations concerned with the care and investigation of the archaeological resource and historic environment. Prominent among these is English Heritage.This is England's government-linked advisor on all aspects of the historic environment. It has special responsibility for Scheduled Ancient Monuments, conducts archaeological field surveys and maintains specialist services such as the Ancient Monuments Laboratory.

Herefordshire Archaeology is a member of the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO) and maintains contacts with bodies such as the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) and the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA). It encourages local societies such as the Woolhope Field Club, and the Hereford and Worcester Gardens Trust. It also liaises with and monitors the work of archaeological units that provide contract and consultancy services to local and national businesses, residents, and others.

Herefordshire Archaeology is committed to the dissemination of information about the archaeology and historic environment of the city and county. We produce the section's newsletter, publish reports, provide information for the media, and organise meetings.

The Annual Symposium on Archaeology in Herefordshire, every November, provides a roundup of the year's archaeological work in the county. We also conduct a programme of field meetings and historic landscape walks.

For more information on projects and events contact the Archaeological Projects Officer on tel: (01432) 383352.