Toggle menu

Ancient monuments

How is a site or building scheduled?

To be eligible for scheduling, the following broad criteria is used:

  • Period - the length of time it remained in use;
  • Rarity - monuments with few known comparators are more likely to be scheduled;
  • Documentation - information from earlier investigations at a site can inform on its significance;
  • Group value - where a monument forms part of a wider geographical landscape of important sites;
  • Survival/condition - the degree to which the surviving remains convey the size, shape and function of the site;
  • Fragility/vulnerability - threats to the site from natural agencies, tourism or development can lead to a monument being scheduled for its protection;
  • Representivity - how well the monument represents diverse similar types and/or whether it contains unique features;
  • Potential - its ability to contribute to our knowledge through further study.

Historic England gathers information on a site, defines a boundary around it and advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of its eligibility for inclusion on the schedule. There is no appeal against the scheduling process.

Share this page

Facebook icon Twitter icon email icon

Print

print icon