Historic environment

From the hunters and gatherers of prehistory to the miner-farmers of the 19th century, communities have continually left their mark on the historic environment of the North Pennines. Properly managed, this historic environment has much to offer the local economy, as well as being of great social and spiritual value to local people and visitors alike.

Within the North Pennines National Landscape today there are 16 Conservation Areas, 183 Scheduled Monuments and 13 Buildings at Risk. Of the 968 Listed Buildings, 15 are Grade I, 36 are Grade II and 917 are Grade III.

The North Pennines National Landscape team’s work on the historic environment focuses on:

• increasing our understanding of the area’s historic buildings, structures, routeways and archaeological features, and share that knowledge widely;
• identifying, conserving and enhancing the patterns of historic landscape (field boundaries, woodland and wood pasture, parklands, mining landscapes;
• using the planning system to avoid the piecemeal erosion of the historic character of buildings and settlements;
• maintaining the supply of local building stone;
• supporting the retention and application of skills required to maintain historic buildings and structures;
• encouraging greater community participation in identifying and conserving what is special about the North Pennines’ historic environment;
• using agri-environment schemes to conserve and enhance archaeological features and built heritage on private land; and
• promoting sensitive new uses for historic buildings and structures.