EH Inspectors

[muddyandcold]

Can anyone claify the role of EH Inspector of Ancient Monuments?? I was under the impression that they monitored SAMS etc, preventing damage. Are they empowered to write specifications? Monitor archaeological works? Question conditions set by church archaeologists???

Perhaps I am just being naive [?] Would love an answer...

[1man1desk]

EH are the official archaeological advisor to all government departments, and that function is often delegated internally to the inspectors.

That means that on Government developments not subject to planning consent (e.g. trunk roads), EH rather than the County Archaeologist is the primary consultee on archaeology. County Archaeologists would only be consulted on a courtesy basis.

However, the role of EH is advisory - they cannot put the equivalent of planning conditions onto a scheme. Actual decisions are made by the government department concerned.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[kevin wooldridge]

quote:Originally posted by 1man1desk
However, the role of EH is advisory - they cannot put the equivalent of planning conditions onto a scheme. Actual decisions are made by the government department concerned.

Except in London where the London division of EH acts as curator on behalf of the majority of London boroughs and advise said boroughs on the appropriate condition as well as monitoring work.

[monitor lizard]

In the main, my understanding is that the IAMs core responsibility is to deal with archaeological remains that are protected through the 1979 AAMA Act, or schedueld ancient monuments. They advise the Secretary of State for the Environment on applications affecting SAMs, and will take an active role in setting conditions for scheduled monument consents, writing briefs for and monitoring fieldwork, approving reports and so on, much like a county curator. Some sites will require both SMC and planning permission. They are assisted by Field Monument Wardens, who regularly visit monuments to assess their condition, and to make sure that agreed management plans are in place.

The Inspectors may also take an interest in major applications, maritime and other consents, monitoring grants, dealing with EH owned monuments, and of course scheduling new ones. I'm sure they do lots more, but you'd have to pin one down and ask them yourself!

The London division of EH does house the equivalent of the county archaeology service for London (the Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service) for most boroughs, as Kevin says, but they do not deal with statutory matters - that is left to the inspector.

Hope that helps

ML

[monitor lizard]

Oops - forgot to blather on further about churches.

Churches that are in use cannot be scheduled ancient monuments, they have to no longer be used for active worship or whatever the correct term is to be scheduled.

Unsure if an Inspector would be the first point of call with a church matter - Faculty considerations are dealt with by the Diocesan Archaeological Advisor or Cathedral Archaeologist in the first instance, and then I would think normal planning considerations would apply.

Done blathering, and sorry if being overly pedantic.[:I]

ML

[muddyandcold]

Would it be correct in the case of a church project for an Inspector of Ancient Monuments to overrule the DAC archaeological advisor?

[historic building]

Inspectors of Ancient Monuments deal with Scheduled Ancient Monuments, hence their name. Churches, as with all buildings in use (except for the early protected sites where they are both scheduled and listed) tend not to be scheduled so are not in the remit of Inspectors of Ancient Monuments. Inspectors case work is primarily based around Scheduled Monument Consents which is work that local curators are not involved in as it is administered by EH. This may well change with the unified planning consent and protection list and be passed to local authorities.

Inspectors of Historic Buildings (also EH) frequently have a lot to do with Churches as they tend to be Grade I or Grade II*. They, however, are concerned with historic buildings and tend not to be archaeologists.

Works on churches, including the C of E also require planning and listed building consent and therefore are subject to normal development control. More minor works can be undertaken by faculty (Church of England planning control) the archaeological advisor to the diocese may advise an archaeological condition on works to be included in the faculty and consult with the archaeological curator who would usually produce a brief, however if there is not an archaeological adviser then these minor works tend not to receive any condition for building works and can cause immense damage to nationally important archaeology (do not get me started).

[monitor lizard]

I have to say that we have had trouble in the past with work to churches that require faculty and not planning, and sometimes the DAC and the arch county advisor do not necessarily see eye to eye. I have found this is more often regarding paperwork (briefs, standards, report submission to the SMR is a big one, etc). More that I don't know what's going on, but this could just be limited to my experience and not reflect the whole picture.

But the DACs often seem to have even less clout than we do - and am I correct in understanding that this is a volunatary role? Pretty sure they are not paid for their advice and time.

Anyway, the C of E has recently produced some guidelines for archaeology and churches (don't have link right now but I'm sure one of you clever folk can find it if you want), and were also heavily involved in the new guidance on the treatment of human remains. http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/catha...idance.pdf

Cheers
ML

[historic building]

I believe they are unpaid as well. One of the diocese in my county does not currently have an advisor and have not had one for a number of years.

The new human remains guidance is a very useful document to beat churches around the head with when they want to do any work and are trying not to pay for an archaeologist.

[Curator Kid]

quote:Originally posted by historic building

The new human remains guidance is a very useful document to beat churches around the head with when they want to do any work and are trying not to pay for an archaeologist.

Amen to that!