A roundup of recent research reports added to our database in December 2022 to January 2023.
Open the themed sections on this page to explore the new research reports.
Please note that we also publish some important research findings separately outside of the database: these mainly cover point-in-time Social and Economic Research.
We are researching and promoting how the historic environment can positively contribute to overall global sustainability through adapting and mitigating measures.
The Historic Landscape: Assessing Opportunity for Change
Authors: Pete Herring, Sam Turner, Chris Sevara.
This report presents a pilot project to develop an approach that utilises Historic Landscape Characterisation to help assess how heritage can be ‘part of the solution’ to the climate change challenge.
Read the report on assessing opportunity for change
Adaptive Release: Guidance Framework for Sites Affected by Coastal Erosion and Flood Management
Authors: Sefryn Penrose, Nadia Bartolini
This report presents a case study of a heritage asset at risk and proposes a framework to guide stakeholders in delivering Adaptive Release in areas affected by erosion and flood defence management.
Reports focusing on methods for managing change in the historic environment.
Strategically Assessing the Historic Landscape’s Sensitivity and Capacity in Relation to Change: A Discussion Document to Inform Preparation of Advice
Author: Pete Herring
Historic England commissioned this review of approaches to modelling the sensitivity to or capacity for change of the historic landscape and seascape.
Research into shipwrecks and other forms of heritage in the marine environment.
Coconut Shells Recovered from the Goodwin Sands in the Vicinity of the Wreck of the Rooswijk: Radiocarbon Dating
Authors: A Bayliss, Serena Cant, Sanne Palstra, Ruth Pelling.
Study of 5 coconuts recovered during excavation at the wreck site of the Rooswijk, an eighteenth-century ship of the Dutch East India Company, wrecked in AD 1740.
Strategic Support for Marine Development Management: Palaeolithic Archaeology and Landscape Reconstruction Offshore
Authors: Rachel Bynoe, Michael J Grant, Justin K Dix.
Analysis of Palaeolithic tools and animal remains found in sand used for beach replenishment.
These reports cover interpretation and mapping of sites, bringing together information on buried features revealed as cropmarks, soilmarks, parchmarks or features visible on the surface such as earthworks and structures, or features identified through Lidar.
The South East Northumberland Air Photo and Lidar Mapping Project
Authors: Alison Deegan
This project generated a detailed map and records of archaeological and historical features that are visible on aerial photographs and lidar imagery.
Reports about the physical remains of historic technology and industry
Stockton and Darlington Railway Locomotive-Coaling Stage, Shildon, Co. Durham: Historic Building Investigation and Assessment of Significance
Author(s): Marcus Jecock, Elizabeth Stephens, Gary Young, Matthew Bristow
This report discusses the significance and place in railway history of the Shildon locomotive-coaling stage, built by the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1847 to improve the re-fuelling times of steam locomotives.
Our reports cover investigations into the built historic environment at different levels of detail. Particular focus points of this research is to support heritage-led regeneration and to inform heritage at risk cases.
A Study of the Roof Environment in Four Domestic Buildings
Authors: Brian Ridout, Iain McCaig, Soki Rhee-Duverne
The aim of the project was to better understand the factors affecting the risk of condensation and moisture accumulation, the influence of roofing underlays and air and vapour control layers on roof environments, and the role of ventilation in managing the risk of condensation.
Read the report on roof environments
A Comparative Evaluation of Methods to Monitor Moisture in Historic Porous Masonry Materials
Author(s): Heather Viles, Hong Zhang, Scott Orr.
The project aimed to develop a methodology to compare the performance of a range of invasive and non-invasive moisture measurement methods used to assess moisture in porous masonry.
Read the report on monitoring moisture
The Cedars, 1A and 3 New Road, North Walsham: Historic Building Report
Author(s): Emily Cole, James Shemmonds.
This report focuses on The Cedars, a house constructed in the late 18th century and enlarged and altered in the 1860s/’70s and in the 20th century.
Our reports on scientific dating, including dendrochronology and radiocarbon methods, add new insights to understanding the chronology of buildings and sites.
Old Manor House (Remains of), Manor Road, Portslade-by-Seas, Brighton, East Sussex: Dendrochronological Investigation of an ex situ Oak Lintel
Author: Dr Martin Bridge The timber proved not to be suitable for dendrochronology, but a sample was taken in case of future interest in pursuing other dating techniques.
Read the report on Old Manor House
Borley Church, Hall Road, Borley, Essex: Dendrochronological Investigation and Radiocarbon Wiggle-matching of Oak Timbers from the Nave and Chancel Roofs
Authors: Dr Martin Bridge, Cathy Tyers, A Bayliss, Michael Dee, Sanne Palstra.
Radiocarbon wiggle-matching of one of the two cross-matching cores suggests that these were felled in 1464–1485 cal AD.
Read the report on Borley Church
Church of St Michael Coslany, Oak Street, Norwich, Norfolk: Tree-Ring Analysis and Radiocarbon Wiggle-Matching of Oak Timbers from the Chancel
Authors: Dr Martin Bridge, A Bayliss, Michael Dee, Sanne Palstra
The three timbers represented in this site master chronology were likely felled in the period of AD 1434–1466DR.
Read the report on Church of St Michael Coslany
Kings Farm, Livery Road, West Winterslow, Wiltshire: Tree-ring Analysis of Oak Timbers
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers
Dendrochronological analysis was undertaken on cores from 23 of the 25 timbers sampled in this building.
Thaxted Guildhall, Town Street, Thaxted, Essex: Tree-ring Analysis of Oak Timbers
Authors: Dr Martin Bridge, Cathy Tyers
The likely felling date range of AD 1421–53, modified to AD 1428–53 in light of one sample retaining the ring for AD 1428, can be applied to most of the dated timbers.
We have updated our interactive map to show many more of the geo-located research reports.
Explore our research reports with this map which is an on-going project that allows access to the majority of research reports produced for place-based projects. It covers most types of non-invasive surveys, including scientific analysis, such as tree ring dating and archaeobotany.
You can download this and other articles in our PDF format magazine.
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