"We cannot care for the historic environment, or direct resources effectively, unless we understand what it is, its condition and how it is changing. We need continuous, thoughtful and well-targeted research to enable us to identify significance and potential" (Power of Place, The future of the historic environment, DCMS and English Heritage, 2000).
The Bath and North East Somerset Council Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) is a computerised database of nearly 5,000 records of archaeological sites; monuments; landscapes; and townscapes collected since 1974 when Avon County Council was formed. In 1996 the new Unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset Council took over responsibility for the management and maintenance of the Wansdyke District and Bath City part of the County Council SMR. The SMR was formally adopted by Bath and North East Somerset Council in 2003.
The B&NES SMR is part of a national network of similar records managed by local authorities. For information on neighbouring areas contact:
The SMR database holds information on various attributes of a site or find including:
- location
- description
- date
- type
- source
The database is linked to a computer mapping system known as a GIS (Geographical Information System) which holds mapped information about a site or find. The GIS also contains information about specific areas of research in B&NES. These areas of research include the following:
- historic landscape surveys for Englishcombe and the manor of Widcombe
- historic farm surveys for Priston, Stanton Prior and Stowey Knighton
- historic field survey for Publow
- Historic Landscape Characterisation for the former County of Avon
- Somerset Coal Canal
- Scheduled Ancient Monuments
- Bath City Urban Characterisation
- ancient woodland
The SMR also holds approximately 200 archaeological excavation and survey reports covering the years 1990 to 2004 and a collection of oblique and vertical aerial photographs dating from 1946 to the present day.
We do not provide a dedicated public space for viewing the SMR. Information can be supplied in paper form or electronically by writing or e-mailing to the Archaeological Officer (see contact details below).
To assist us in providing the best level of information could you please make sure that your enquiry is clear and concise. There are a number of different ways to search the SMR including: Where; what and; when.
Where
-
send a paper map of the area you are interested with sufficient information for us to locate it on our GIS.
-
define the centre of an area using a National Grid Reference and give a radius (in metres)
-
tell us the name of a parish or settlement within B&NES you are interested in
What
When
Please allow 20 days for your information to reach you. For small enquiries we will try to send the information to you much quicker but large and complex enquiries may take the full 20 days.