Historic Environment

Historic Environment

Herefordshire possesses a rich historic environment which includes numerous Iron Age hill forts, sites of Roman towns, defensive features such as Offa’s Dyke and the border castles, together with some of the best preserved traditional timber framed buildings in the country. 

The richness of the historic environment is reflected in the number of designated heritage assets encompassing a wealth of listed buildings, registered historic parks and gardens, scheduled ancient monuments and conservations areas. 

These add to the special built quality and environmental character of many areas of the county and their protection and enhancement is recognised as an important ingredient for economic and neighbourhood renewal. 

 The county’s archaeological heritage is a valuable but fragile part of our historic environment. A large part of central Hereford is one of only five cities in England to be designated an area of archaeological importance. 

The wider value of historic landscapes is recognised through the designation of conservations areas, which vary in character and size from tiny hamlets to villages to country house estates, market towns and Hereford’s historic centre. Rather than one vernacular building style, 

Herefordshire has a diverse range of buildings of which perhaps the most well-known and distinctive is the ‘black and white’ timber framed traditional buildings of the northern half of the county.

We are looking to update the historic environment policy to strengthen the approach and reflect current national guidance on this issue. 

View the Historic Environment Policy Options

Go to Policy Options Questions