Each year 'Heritage Counts' is supported by a number of research reports. On this page you can download these research reports. Please visit the English Heritage or HLF research pages for more general information on the social and economic evidence base for the historic environment.
‘Heritage Counts 2010’ focused on the economic impact of the historic environment. Two research projects were undertaken to support this report. One explored the economic impact of historic environment regeneration and the other looked at the economic impact of historic attractions.
Tourism and Heritage
Each year, English Heritage commissions a report with Visit England to measure the number of visits to heritage attractions and provides a summary of the results in 'Heritage Counts'. The report includes information on visitor numbers, income, admissions costs, education visits and marketing spend. The 2010 report is available here and previous year’s copies are available on request.
Skills in the Heritage Sector
'Heritage Counts 2008' includes a summary of the National Heritage Training Group (NGHT) research report which reviews and evaluates the impact of the work of the NHTG in addressing the skills shortage identified in the 2005 NHTG Skills Needs Analysis of the built heritage sector report.
Participation in the historic environment
'Heritage Counts 2007' summarises a research report which looks at the drivers of participation in the historic environment. It concludes that visiting heritage sites as a child is the most important derterminate in predicting adult participation.
'Heritage Counts 2003' also commissioned a survey looking at attitudes towards the historic environment:
For 'Heritage Counts 2009' new research was commissioned which found a strong link between living in the historic environment and sense of place, with individuals living in historic areas having a stronger sense of place than those who don’t.
Heritage and the Media
'Heritage Counts 2006' commissioned research looking at heritage television habits – who watches heritage programme, when and why.
Heritage and the Voluntary Sector
In 2006 'Heritage Counts' commissioned The Heritage Alliance (formally Heritage Link) to undertake an audit of the voluntary organisations operating in the historic environment: who they are, what they do and what support they need. The three reports which accompany this piece of research are below:
'Heritage Counts 2005' focused on the rural historic environment. The reports here assess the state of the rural historic environment including distribution of farm buildings, their conversions and new social and economic uses.
Research on the economic and social impact of historic cathedrals for 'Heritage Counts 2004', including visitor figures, employment, education programmes and volunteering.
For 'Heritage Counts 2004' this report estimates the available funds for reparing and restoring the historic environment.
Heritage Lottery Fund Reports
Each year, the Heritage Lottery Fund produces a summary of key social and economic research in the historic environment over the past year. These summaries feed into Heritage Counts. Reports from 2007 – 2011 can be downloaded here. You can also download a Demos report from 2004 on the cultural and public value of the HLF.
Challenge and Change: HLF and Cultural Value’ (report by Demos for the Heritage Lottery Fund)