Historic Environment Scotland facts for kids
| Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba | |
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 Longmore House in Edinburgh, headquarters of Historic Environment Scotland |
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| Organisation overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 October 2015 |
| Preceding agencies | |
| Type | Non-departmental public body |
| Jurisdiction | Scotland |
| Headquarters | Longmore House, Edinburgh |
| Employees | 1,500+ (incl. volunteers) |
| Minister responsible |
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| Organisation executives |
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Historic Environment Scotland (HES) (Scottish Gaelic: Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba) is an executive non-departmental public body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment. HES was formed in 2015 from the merger of government agency Historic Scotland with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS). Among other duties, Historic Environment Scotland maintains more than 300 properties of national importance including Edinburgh Castle, Skara Brae and Fort George.
History
Under the terms of a Bill of the Scottish Parliament published on 3 March 2014, RCAHMS and Historic Scotland were dissolved and their functions transferred to Historic Environment Scotland, on 1 October 2015.
Historic Environment Scotland is a non-departmental public body with charitable status, governed by a board of trustees appointed by the Scottish Ministers. The body is charged with implementing "Our Place in Time", Scotland's historic environment strategy, and has responsibility for buildings and monuments in state care, as well as national collections of manuscripts, drawings and photographs. Beyond these collections, Historic Environment Scotland provide funding and guidance for conservation works and education across Scotland.
Equivalent organisations
Organisations that play a similar role to HES in the other countries of the United Kingdom:
- Cadw (Wales)
- Historic England and English Heritage
- The Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland (previously part of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency)
