Historic Environment Scotland facts for kids
| Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba | |
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 Longmore House in Edinburgh, headquarters of Historic Environment Scotland |
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| Organisation overview | |
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| Formed | 1 October 2015 |
| Preceding agencies | |
| Type | Non-departmental public body |
| Jurisdiction | Scotland |
| Headquarters | Longmore House, Edinburgh |
| Employees | 1,500+ (incl. volunteers) |
| Minister responsible |
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| Organisation executives |
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Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is a special organization in Scotland. Its main job is to look after and share Scotland's amazing history. This includes old castles, ancient villages, and important historical sites. HES was created in 2015. It brought together two older groups: Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. HES takes care of over 300 important places, like Edinburgh Castle and Skara Brae.
How Historic Environment Scotland Began
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) started on October 1, 2015. Before that, two different groups did similar work. These were Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS). The Scottish Parliament decided to combine them. This made one big organization to protect Scotland's past.
HES is a "non-departmental public body." This means it works for the Scottish Government but is also a charity. A board of trustees, chosen by Scottish Ministers, leads HES. Their main goal is to follow "Our Place in Time." This is Scotland's plan for its historic environment.
What HES Does
HES looks after many important buildings and monuments. These are places owned by the state. They also keep national collections of old writings, drawings, and photos. Beyond these collections, HES helps with money and advice. They support projects that preserve history and teach people about it all over Scotland.
Some of the famous places HES looks after include:
- Edinburgh Castle
- Skara Brae (an ancient village)
- Fort George (a large military fort)
Similar Groups in the UK
Other parts of the United Kingdom have organizations like HES. They also work to protect their history. Here are some examples:
- Cadw in Wales
- Historic England and English Heritage in England
- The Historic Environment Division in Northern Ireland. This group is part of the Department for Communities.
