English Heritage

Historic buildings are powerful reminders of the past - the work, art and life of our ancestors. They are precious assets adding to a country’s cultural richness and architectural heritage that influence our sense of national and regional identity. To protect and maintain historic architecture is our responsibility and duty to our nation.

Dover Castle

In England, the English Heritage exists to conserve, give advice, register, protect and promote England’s grand and spectacular historic environment and to ensure that Britain’s history is researched and understood.

The English Heritage is actually the statutory adviser of the Government and they provide the Government with valuable advice regarding the heritage of England. It is in the National Heritage Act of 1983 from where one can find the responsibilities and powers of the body.

The English Heritage is thus, an un-elected QUANGO that receives government funding to further its work on historic conservation. It exercises direct ownership of some historical sites and liaises with private historic property owners to manage sites under guardianship arrangements.

The English Heritage identifies, recommends and includes sites and buildings on statutory lists of buildings of ’special architectural or historic interest’ that is compiled by the DCMS. Buildings can be listed by virtue of age, rarity, construction method or architectural merit and even to commemorate important events and famous persons.

The English Heritage stewards a number of significant historic archeological sites like the Stonehenge, Whitby Abbey, Clifford’s Tower, Dunstanburgh Castle, Dover Castle, Kenwood House, etc.