Heritage body Historic Environment Scotland have unveiled a new website to make Scotland’s history more accessible. This comes as part of a 2 year project that included a full rewrite of the website copy and production of a bank of new photography, to create a digital platform that will help visitors, homeowners, academics and educators to find information about Scotland’s past.
Historic Environment Scotland brings together Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The new organisation holds over 320,000 archival records, 480,000 photographs, and written information on over 47,000 listed buildings across Scotland.
Historic Environment Scotland also provides advice and support for planners and homeowners, offers different types of grant funding, and is the largest operator of tourist attractions in the country. The new website caters to disparate audiences in a user focussed way, making information about the historic environment quick and easy to find.
Digital Media Manager Steven Blyth said, “Creating a new website encompassing all of the work Historic Environment Scotland carries out has been an enormous task. Some of the information we deal as an organisation is complex, as it covers things like legislation and academic research, so we’ve worked to present everything in a way that is accessible for everyone.
“Our main aim throughout the project was to make sure information is focussed on our users’ needs. We’ve made it relevant and accessible, and involved groups of users at every step of the journey. The result is a site totally focused on the people who will use it. It’s easy to navigate, regardless of whether you’re accessing it via phone, tablet or laptop. We’re very proud of the result, which brings our digital presence to the forefront of the sector and gives us the opportunity to make the very most of what Historic Environment Scotland has to offer.”
Some of the things users can do on the new website include:
- Read about the varied history of over 300 historic sites, browse image galleries and plan days out across Scotland
- Find technical information and advice, for instance how to insulate a historic building or apply for grant funding
- Find information and see browse our decisions relating to listed buildings and scheduled monuments
- Access learning resources, including our popular Schools Activity Programme
- Explore our collections, from aerial photography showing Britain from Above to artefacts like carved stones
- Learn about and apply for grants and funding
- Stay up to date with the work of HES using the blog and news centre
The website also showcases the organisation’s new branding, including a logo based on the shape of a keystone, an architectural feature found across the built historic environment. It was chosen as a symbol of strength and stability, illustrating the organisation’s aim to become a unifying force in the sector.
Access the site at www.historicenvironment.scot
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- As of the 1st October 2015, Historic Scotland and RCAHMS came together to form a new lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. The new body Historic Environment Scotland (HES) will lead on delivering Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.
- Historic Scotland is a sub brand of HES.
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Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016
2016 is the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design (IAD). Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland's position as an "innovation nation", its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector. This is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland and supported by a variety of partners.
Follow Historic Environment Scotland
Twitter: @HistEnvScot | @welovehistory
Facebook: @HistoricEnvScotland | @VisitHistoricScotland
For further information
Ali George
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
Direct Line: 0131 668 8714
Mobile: 07853 018 790
communications@hes.scot