Historic Landscape Characterisation: Policy and Best practice guidance
Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) is concerned with identifying the contribution of the past to the landscape as it exists in the present. All areas have some element of historic character, which contributes to their distinctiveness and people’s sense of place. HLC is not particularly concerned with sites or monuments, although these can make an important contribution to character, just as their landscape setting is an important aspect of their historic interest. HLC creates a seamless mosaic of historic character of the present day landscape. It begins with identification and description of character followed by assessments of value, sensitivity, significance and pressures.
Programme Implementation
This approach has been undertaken in Ireland on a limited basis in counties Offaly, Westmeath and Laois as part of an EU funded programme and more recently in Counties Limerick, Donegal, Roscommon, Louth, Kerry and Fingal. It is expected that Policy guidance resulting from the review project will inform practice from 2010 onwards.
The documents below, prepared by Oxford Archaeology on behalf of the Heritage Council, describe the approach in greater detail. Illustrations have been removed from the full version, a final illustrated version will be posted in due course.