Heritage Assessment Site Visits

A Heritage Consultant’s Overview

Why are Heritage Assessment Site Visits Important?

For a Heritage Consultant, visiting a site is one of the more crucial aspects of our work when carrying out a Heritage Assessment, be that for a Heritage Statement, Archaeology Desk-Based Assessment, or a Historic Building Recording.

Site visits allow us to gain a comprehensive, first-hand understanding of a site and its surroundings. By having a physical presence on site, this enables us to fully appreciate the heritage asset and its spatial relationship within the wider landscape, be that in an open field, or in a busy urban street. It also ensures that we do not miss out on subtle details, such as an architectural feature, like carpenter’s marks (right) or signs of sub-surface archaeology (below – Victorian hallway) or evidence of subsidence which may otherwise be lost through photographs alone.

Site visits often also provide the opportunity to interact with stakeholders. This could include clients, Conservation Officers, or architects. In many instances, direct communication can lead to a greater mutual understanding of the site and the local area.

The Site Visit Process

Set Up

“a site visit is one of the most vital components while producing a heritage report.”

Every site visit is preceded by a series of set-up processes I find invaluable in ensuring that I have gleaned the most amount of information from each trip.

First and foremost, conducting preliminary research about the site and its wider setting is vital. This provides a good overall understanding of the site and its history and ensures that I have a mental list of all the key features I want to keep an eye out for on site.

Following this, I will consult regional archives and record office catalogues online. By checking ahead of time, I can go to a record office prepared with a list of items pertinent to the site. Finally, before I travel to a site, I carry out appropriate risk assessments and check I have the correct PPE with me to ensure my safety while working on site.

On Site

I often try to arrive on site early to allow me time to familiarize myself with the area and take photos of the setting and wider landscape, including neighbouring heritage assets.

During a Heritage Statement (HS) site visit, I will access areas of the building that will be affected by the proposals. Sometimes this encapsulates the entirety of the building, whereas other times this may only be a small portion of one floor. I take photos of every area of importance, to document its current condition and produce a photographic record to include in the report. In terms of timing, this largely depends on the nature of the proposals and the size of the site. A manor house or former hospital building (right) earmarked for full conversion will take substantially longer to photograph than a small house where work is only occurring on the ground floor.

During an Archaeology Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) site visit, I will access all areas of land that will be affected by the proposed development. This can range from a basement, a small rear garden, right up to many hectares of agricultural land (left). This enables me to get a first-hand experience of the current condition of the land and identify any features in the landscape which may be of archaeological origin. Again, photographs are taken to produce a photographic record to include in the report.

I write down notes as I go, to ensure I don’t forget any details. On visits to more complex properties or sites, I will annotate building plans as I go, marking down where I took each photograph.

Guidance for Clients

Please be as flexible as possible with the timing of site visits provided by your Heritage Consultant. We often arrange these to most efficiently co-ordinate with the opening times of Record Offices and Archives.
Ensure ease of access to the site – Heritage Statement. This could include removing a lot of clutter from a room to allow for a clear view of any historical fabric. If there are vehicles, multiple bins or skips in front of the property, it is always useful to move these to allow for an unobstructed view of the building.
Ensure ease of access to the site – Archaeology Desk-Based Assessment. This may involve ensuring fences or gates are unlocked at the time of the visit or clearing the site of excessive overgrowth. It is very difficult to appreciate a site from behind a wooden fence, or while wading through brambles! Please note that if you have livestock on your site, it is helpful to move them prior to a site visit.
Do communicate with your Heritage Consultant if you are present on site with them. Sometimes we glean vital pieces of oral history through talking to people on site; often this information isn’t documented in an archive or online and it can greatly assist the research process

Summary

Supporting your Heritage Consultant to undertake a comprehensive site visit will mean your report for Planning is complete and properly detailed for the proposed works. It is important to make sure that your appointed Heritage Consultancy is professionally recognised to undertake these works. AB Heritage is Registered with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, (CIfA) the body that sets industry standards. CIfA provide guidance for clients looking to procure heritage services and these are available on their website.

Author: Clare Lazzari, Heritage Consultant.