Stand up for your local heritage!

The places we live and work have been subject to all kinds of changes throughout their histories. We see it in the landscapes and townscapes around us. Whether it's the remains of a prehistoric burial mound, an 18th century iron works or a Second World War memorial, there are remnants of the past everywhere.

Some of these places are well-known landmarks, loved and cherished by all. Others are more subtle – an interesting building you pass on the way to work or a park you’ve visited since childhood. Regardless of what it is, all these places have a part to play in the story of South Yorkshire and how our towns and villages became what they are today. The brand-new South Yorkshire Local Heritage List will reflect the importance of these places and help protect them for the future.

The desire to protect historic places is nothing new. As far back as 1882, The Ancient Monuments Protection Act was introduced to ensure that historic places were protected and cared for. This evolved into the National Heritage List for England, incorporating listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks, gardens and battlefields.

Over the past 50 years, the need for local listing has been recognised for places that don’t make it onto the national list, but that are still significant to the history of their communities. Unfortunately, not all areas of the country have a local list.

In October 2019, the government launched the Local Heritage Listing Campaign to plug the gaps and encourage local authorities with partial lists or without lists to set one up. There was overwhelming interest in the campaign and as a result, here at the South Yorkshire Archaeology Service, we were awarded funding to get a project going in the region.

What is a Local Heritage List and why is it important?

A Local Heritage List is a register of historic places that contribute to the distinctiveness of an area but that are not protected nationally.

When people hear about listing, they usually think of historic buildings. But local listing can include buildings, archaeological sites, parks and gardens, designed landscapes, historic areas and commemorative monuments – pretty much anything with a historic connection.

These are places that give an area its character and illustrate its heritage – and that are valued by their communities. By including them on the Local Heritage List, we can see what makes different areas of South Yorkshire special while also helping to protect them, as Local Heritage Listing will flag up these places in the planning system.

The most important thing about the project is that anybody can nominate a heritage asset for the list, making it a real reflection of how local communities feel about their historic places. You don’t have to be a history expert or know everything about the asset. The desire to see it recognised and protected is a good start (you can find out more about its history later).

How will it work?

Our website has all the information about local listing and how it works in South Yorkshire. You can view existing entries on the list, find out which assets are eligible for nomination and nominate new candidates for the list.

The South Yorkshire Local Heritage List will give everyone the power to stand up for their local heritage, help protect it and share it with the wider world. In doing so, we can expand our knowledge of how the communities of South Yorkshire developed and the places that made it all possible.

So if you’re feeling inspired by a heritage asset near you, head over to the website and get nominating.

The process for getting a heritage asset listed has four stages:

• - Identify the asset you want to nominate and check it’s not already locally listed or even on the National Heritage List
• - Find out more about the history of your candidate and think about what makes it special
• - Complete a nomination form, including the results of your research to show how your nomination meets the criteria
• - Your nomination will be assessed by a panel of local heritage experts and recommended candidates will be added to the list