History of the National Monuments Record
The National Monuments Record (NMR) became part of English Heritage in April 1999. At that time the NMR was part of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), which merged with English Heritage.
1908
The RCHME was created, initially to compile and publish an inventory of all ancient and historical monuments up until the year 1700, by county and by parish. Every monument included had to be visited by someone from the RCHME.
1940
The National Buildings Record (NBR), an independent body, was set up to collect photographic and other records of historic buildings at risk from enemy action across Britain. The RCHME, working with the NBR, carried out extensive photographic recording of towns in the Southern and Eastern counties.
1946
The RCHME’s work was extended to include the recording of 18th and 19th century architecture.1963
The NBR is transferred to the RCHME and the National Monuments Record (NMR) is formed. This was to include archaeology, as well as architectural information and archives within it. By 1979 the focus of the RCHME was changing, moving away from the publication of county inventories to research and survey work responsive to conservation needs, focusing on themes of historic interest or threat.
1981
The Industrial Monuments Survey was transferred to the RCHME from the Department of the Environment
1983
The NMR took on a major new commitment, with transfer from the Ordnance Survey, the responsibility for the national record of archaeological sites. Using this as a foundation a computerised inventory of sites was created.
1984
The Department of the Environment (DoE) National Library of Aerial Photographs transferred to the NMR. This included two million RAF and Ordnance Survey aerial photographs.
1986
The RCHME took on responsibility for the Survey of London, when the Greater London Council was abolished. The Survey of London was founded in 1894 to research and publish a detailed inventory of historic buildings in London, so encouraging their preservation.
1992
By now the RCHME’s work included the responsibility for creating a central record for historic wrecks and other archaeological sites within the 12 mile coastal limit.
1996
A strategic plan to take the organisation into the new millennium was drawn up, simplifying the remit into three core activities; survey, record and dissemination.
1998
In July the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) proposed the merger of the RCHME and English Heritage as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
April 1999
The merger took place between the Royal Commission and English Heritage.
