The County Council provides archaeological planning advice and curates Gloucestershire’s official Historic Environment Record (HER), which holds over 53,000 computerised records of archaeological sites, historic buildings and other notable sites of historic interest from prehistoric burial chambers to Second World War pill boxes, battlefield sites, and historic parks and gardens. Information is also available on Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Registered Battlefields or Registered Parks and Gardens.
Digital resources and online mapping
Some useful contacts and points of reference, where you can find information about Stroud district’s conservation areas, listed buildings, archaeology and other designated and non-designated heritage assets.
Gloucestershire Heritage Hub is the home of Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucestershire Family History Society, Gloucestershire Police Archives and a number of other heritage charities, including Gloucester History Festival.
Know Your Place West of England is a free digital heritage mapping resource. It spans eight counties, including Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, and covers 7279 square miles. It enables you to explore your neighbourhood online through historic maps, collections, archaeological data and linked information. You can also add information by sharing your own images and research via the community layer.
Gloucestershire Archives is a project partner and several key series of maps (including tithe and inclosure) from their collections were digitised for the resource.
Explore your neighbourhood’s heritage and built environment via online georeferenced historic maps and aerial photography of the UK, using this great ‘side-by-side’ resource from the National Library of Scotland.
Check if your site is in a conservation area, or lies within the Costwolds National Landscape; check whether there are any trees with preservation orders on them or if there is an article 4 direction on the property. See which specific Local Plan policies are relevant for your site.
The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is the only official, up to date register of all nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England.
There is a wealth of other information on the Historic England website, including funding sources, Heritage At Risk and Heritage Counts data, as well as practical advice and technical guidance.
Visit Historic England / search the National Heritage List for England
Visit Historic England / explore the archive: photos, maps, plans and illustrations
Search for information on England's historic sites and buildings, including images of listed buildings. This website (managed by Historic England) includes a map search facility and allows you to cross-search over 60 resources, offering local and national information relating to England’s heritage.
British history online is a digital library of key printed sources, with a primary focus on the period between 1300 and 1800.
The many volumes of the Victoria County History of Gloucestershire are an especially useful source of history about particular settlements. Volume 10 is a useful starting point for the parishes within the Severn vale; Volume 11 covers parishes in the Cotswold hills and valleys.
The Museum in the Park is a great place to start – it tells the story of Stroud District, from its geological foundations to the latest cultural events and innovations, and is home to many records and artefacts.