Latest Advice and Guidance
This page highlights our most recent advice and guidance on a wide range of heritage-related topics. All of our advice is free to download from relevant sections of the website and the Publications pages.
This page includes the following lists:
This document is interim guidance for conservation professionals and building managers responsible for buildings with fibrous plaster in the UK.
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This guidance sets out the specification for Historic Environment Records (HERs) and replaces the Benchmarks for Good Practice (ALGAO 2002).
Learn moreReducing fires in properties with thatched roofs
Working together with The Fire Protection Association and NFU Mutual Insurance Society Limited we have published a new guidance pamphlet for owners/occupiers of thatched buildings who use wood burning and multi-fuel stoves. Read more on the fire advice section of our website.
Advice on obtaining insurance and establishing the extent of cover required.
Learn moreRevised and updated advice and guidance
Introductions to Heritage Assets on archaeology updated and reissued
This series of 41 guides covers a huge variety of archaeological remains from artillery defences, to hermitages and water meadows. The example below is the introduction to the type of prehistoric sites known as 'banjo enclosures'. Find out more from the Introductions to Heritage Assets web page
Other revised and updated guidance
Below is a list of other advice and guidance documents we've revised and updated in the last six months.
Guidance to help congregations, new owners and professional advisors make informed decisions about how to adapt and make changes to nonconformist chapels.
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Handbook on dealing with archaeological animal bones and teeth, from project planning through to post-excavation.
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This guidance provides advice on the design of new or improved lightning protection and surge protection systems.
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This guidance note has been prepared to assist planning authorities and archaeological officers, developers and their consultants to make clear and informed decisions about piling schemes and their potential impact upon archaeological remains. It provides information on piling types, impacts, and solutions for sustainable foundation design and is illustrated by case studies.
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Advice Note 1 - this revised guidance sets out ways to manage change in a way that conserves and enhances historic areas through conservation area designation, appraisal and management.
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This publication provides practical guidance on reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) technique, and in particular, on the polynomial texture mapping (PTM) method for fitting reflectance distribution data.
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Catalogue of the extensive range of expert advice and guidance to help you care for and protect historic places.
Learn moreWhat you told us
In 2017 we commissioned Pye Tait Consulting to research whether Historic England's written advice and guidance provides the right information to the right audiences in the most effective way.
We are very grateful to everyone who took part in this study and shared their views.
The review found that overall our advice and guidance is well received and trusted. However, you told us that it isn't always easy to find the right advice and guidance on our website and we are looking at ways to improve that.
The report also highlighted that the sheer volume of available advice and guidance from a range of different organisations can make it difficult for users to know where to go first (especially people who don't need to access this advice very often). The report recommends greater collaboration to minimise the risk of duplication, strengthen content and improve cross-promotion.
The Audience Insights Report is available to download from our website.
This report provides insights into how well Historic England’s online advice and guidance conveys the right information to the right audiences in the most accessible and effective way.
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