Collection: English Heritage

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The object collections have been brought together over a period of 125 years.

  The origin of the collections can be traced back to the Office of Works and reflects the creation of the national collection of buildings and monuments. The first property to come into Guardianship was Kit’s Coty House in 1883, this and other early acquisitions came with no objects and neither did the work at the time generate any through excavation. The first site to come into Guardianship with collections was Carisbrooke, which had become the responsibility of the Office of Works by 1896 bringing with it guns and some other objects. This was followed in 1901 by the Pyx Chamber at Westminster Abbey which was transferred to the Office of Works along with its cope chests.

  Osborne House was given to the nation in 1902 and opened to the public in 1904. The majority of the collection has always been on long-term loan from the Royal Collection. Management of Osborne and its collection was retained by the Department of the Environment (DoE) between 1984 and 1986. In 1904 Walmer Castle was transferred from the War Office, its contents were given by Lord Curzon (the then Lord Warden) in 1905. Other castles were transferred from the War Office from this time onwards. Once standing buildings became part of the collection, architectural material entered the collection as a result of site clearance, consolidation and repair work. Richborough Roman Fort was acquired in 1912, leading to important archaeological collections resulting from Bushe-Fox’s 1923–38 excavations. Langley Chapel and its furniture came into Guardianship in 1914.

  Between the wars, a programme of major site clearances at ruined abbeys resulted in major additions to the collections, for example Rievaulx, Whitby and Byland Abbeys. In1933 Corbridge Roman Site was acquired together with the collections of the Corbridge Excavation Fund (from their 1906 -14 excavations) on a long-term loan. Later excavation campaigns in 1933 -73 and 1980 have added significantly to the Corbridge Collections.

  In 1940 the Office of Works became the Ministry of Works and Buildings, in 1942 the Ministry of Works of Planning and then form 1943 the Ministry of Works.

  The Ministry of Works took responsibility for the Great Hall of Eltham Palace in 1944 and there are archaeological collections from excavations undertaken there in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1995 English Heritage took over management of the remainder of the site. Wrest Park was acquired in 1946 and, apart from the statuary and garden buildings, was leased to the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering who were required to open the gardens to the public. English Heritage took over the house when the institute closed in 2006.

  Wroxeter Roman Town was acquired in 1947 and the site produced large archaeological collections from subsequent excavations by Graham Webster from 1955 -85 and Philip Barker in 1966 -90. In 1949 Audley End House was purchased, its collections were initially all on loan, however, over half have since been purchased or donated.

  1952 saw the acquisition of Aldborough Roman Town including its existing museum, followed in 1954 by Chesters Roman Fort with its museum (which ad first opened in 1903) leased from, and with the collections on loan from the Trustees of the Clayton Collection. Chiswick House was acquired in 1956 although its collections have been gradually built up since then. In 1959 Cobham Hall was acquired with some of its contents. The hall was repaired and sold in 1963; however, the contents remained as part of the collection, some being placed on loan with the new owners of Cobham.

  In 1966, the Alexander Keiller Museum was given to the nation. Heveningham Hall and its contents were acquired in 1969 and the house was repaired and sold in 1977 with the majority of the contents remaining as part of the collection. Also, in 1969, responsibility for monuments in Wales and Scotland along with their respective collections was transferred to the Welsh and Scottish Offices. In 1970, the Ministry of Works was absorbed into the new DoE.

  Wharram Percy deserted medieval village was acquired in 1972 with the archive of over 110,000 finds from the 1950 -90 excavations transferred to English Heritage from Hull Museums and the West Yorkshire Archaeological Service in 2014.

  In 1973 an Assistant Inspector of Ancient Monuments was appointed with specific responsibility for the collections, later becoming Curator of Archaeology. In 1981 a Curator of Works of Arts was appointed. In 1983 a curator was appointed with specific responsibility for the Hadrian’s Wall museums.

  1984 saw the creation of the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission of England (HBMCE but universally known as English Heritage) and the Royal Armouries, at which point all guns belonging to DoE, including those on sites to be managed by HBMCE, were transferred to the Royal Armouries. Hampton Court, the Tower of London, Kensington Palace and other historic royal palaces remained with DoE. In the early 1990s HBMCE transferred its collections relating to these sites to the Historic Royal Palaces Agency(created in 1989).

  On the abolition of the Greater London Council(GLC) in 1986, three houses and their collections were transferred to English Heritage: Kenwood House with the Iveagh Bequest, Marble Hill House and Ranger’s House with the Suffolk Collection. In addition to this the Architectural Study Collection was also acquired from the GLC. This had been begun by the Historic Buildings branch of the Architects Department of the London County Council in 1902 when they began collecting parts of demolished buildings which were then transferred to the GLC in 1969.

  Sir David Wilson’s review in 1988 resulted in a programme of moving collections stored locally on sites, often in unsuitable conditions, into appropriate stores. It also saw an acceleration of the programme of documenting the collections and creating finding lists and catalogues.

  Brodsworth Hall was acquired by English Heritage in 1990 including its contents with financial support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. In 1996 Down House and its collections (originally opened as a museum by the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1928) were acquired with funding from the Wellcome Trust.

  In 2002, a 125-year loan of the Wernher Collection was agreed for Ranger’s House. In 2004, responsibility for Apsley House and its collections was transferred to English Heritage from the DoE. The JW Evans Silver Works, Birmingham and its contents were purchased in 2008.

  In 2015, management of the collections was transferred from the HBMCE to the newly formed English Heritage Trust (which continues to be known by the name English Heritage), a charitable trust independent of Government. Full details of this arrangement are set out in the Property Licence and Operating Agreement (PLOA).

  Between 2015 and 2021, Historic England and English Heritage have benefited from several additions to the collection through the Acceptance in Lieu scheme and the Cultural Gifts scheme. In 2020, management of Gainsborough Old Hall was transferred to English Heritage from Lincolnshire County Council along with the related collections.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The collections managed by English Heritage total over 850,000 objects. They range from prehistoric finds to pieces of contemporary art. The majority of the collections are associated in some way with the properties in the care of English Heritage or with a property formerly in the care of English Heritage or a predecessor organisation.

  Around 69% of the collections are archaeological in nature, a further 17% is books or archives with 10% being social or industrial history, 3% decorative arts, 0.5% natural history, 0.4% fine art and 0.1% ethnography. Around 13% of the objects in the collection are currently on display. While small in number the fine art collections comprise some of the most significant and valuable objects. In addition to the accessioned collections English Heritage occasionally acquires historic objects for use as props within specific sites; these items are not accessioned into the permanent collections and their use is governed by a separate policy document.

  In broad terms the collections comprise:

  • Archaeological archives from excavations and other interventions on English Heritage properties;
  • Architectural material removed during clearance work, consolidation, repair or maintenance at English Heritage properties;
  • Historic contents, including art, furniture, books, social history, natural history and arms, associated with English Heritage properties;
  • Historic material similar to that which would have been present at an English Heritage property;
  • Fine art and furniture acquired for display at specific English Heritage properties (including the Iveagh Bequest and the Suffolk Collection);
  • Contemporary art acquired or commissioned for display at specific English Heritage properties;
  • Material relating to the history of the display and maintenance of English Heritage properties;
  • Archive material relating to owners, occupiers and workers at English Heritage properties;
  • Oral history relating to the use of English Heritage properties by owners, occupiers, workers and visitors.

  As well as these English Heritage also manages a number of collections that are not related to the properties:

  • The Architectural Study Collection;
  • A collection of architectural material salvaged from Great Yarmouth;
  • The Wernher Collection of decorative art; collected by Julius Wernher. This collection is on long term loan to English Heritage from the Wernher Trustees. Due to the specific nature of the loan agreement this policy does not apply to the Wernher Collection.

  English Heritage is responsible for a number of sites that contain historic working machinery; these include J.W. Evans, Stott Park Bobbin Mill and Sibsey Trader Windmill. In addition to this English Heritage manages, and occasionally operates, several firearms and musical instruments which are accessioned as objects within the permanent collection. English Heritage acknowledges that there can be benefits derived from operating historic machinery and equipment including increased public engagement and regular maintenance but also that operating historic machinery and equipment can pose a risk to the objects themselves through wear and tear, accident and breakage.

  The decision to operate historic machinery or equipment will be taken on a case by case basis and with full consultation with curators, conservators and external specialists where appropriate. The benefits to the public in terms of engagement will always be weighed against any potential risks both to the operator and to the item in question. Where the decision has been taken to operate a piece of historic machinery or equipment it will be done so in line with all necessary legislative requirements relative to that item. All legislative requirements will be fully documented and the relevant documentation lodged with Registry.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC