Cheshire Historic Environment Record

The Cheshire Historic Environment Record (HER), maintained by the Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service, is the central record of known archaeological sites and historic landscapes across Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire East, Halton, and Warrington. It covers evidence from prehistoric times to the recent past. The HER includes information on buried archaeology revealed through excavation, survey, or aerial photography, as well as earthworks, listed buildings, standing structures, stray finds, historic parks and gardens, battlefields, and Historic Landscape Character. Each record typically includes details such as site type, date, location, description, and sources, held within a digital database linked to a geographic information system. Many entries also contain supporting material such as excavation reports, correspondence, plans, publications, and photographs. The depth and accuracy of information vary. Some sites are known only from early, sometimes vague, discoveries, while others are supported by modern archaeological investigations that provide detailed evidence. The HER is continually updated as new sites, finds, and research are reported by professional archaeologists, museums, local researchers, and projects supported by the host councils or Historic England.