Here you can find a range of advice to support you in caring for rural heritage. The resources available here include links to Historic England's research into rural heritage and guidance on managing change to this heritage at both landscape level and at the level of individual buildings or sites such as farmsteads. You can also find out about funding and other forms of support for rural heritage.
England's rural landscape is a jewel of our national heritage, formed by people living on and working the land over thousands of years.
It includes a great range of heritage assets from historic buildings to archaeological remains.
England's rural landscape includes a great range of heritage assets from historic buildings to archaeological remains.
This page sets out how planning in the countryside differs from that in urban areas, and points to sources of further information.
Farm Buildings and Traditional Farmsteads
Our advice and approach for ensuring the historic character, survival and use of traditional and historic farm buildings.
Protected Rural Landscapes
How we work with National Parks and the National Association of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Landscapes & Areas
The historic environment is managed not only at the level of individual buildings, sites or monuments, but also in terms of entire landscapes.
Investigation and Assessment
Find out what we consider when recommending a building or site for listing.
Support and Funding for Rural Heritage
Rural heritage can benefit from programmes that offer advice and funding for the care of heritage in rural settings.
Metal Detecting
A summary of the conditions regarding metal detecting on agri-environment land.
Creating New Woodland
Find the information and advice you need to create new woodland whilst also protecting the historic environment.
Our research explores new ways of appreciating and understanding the rural historic environment and informs the ways we manage change to rural buildings and landscapes.
A series of reports to help understand the local character of farmsteads in England.
Read about our recent research which assesses the character and significance of rural buildings across England’s countryside.
Revealing the patterns and connections within a landscape, spatially and through time, for example in relation to buildings and patterns (of fields, streets and routeways).
A downloadable spatial data of 19th century settlements and terrain in England based on the Atlas of Rural Settlement.
Historic England research into how land use and development can affect the historic environment.
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