History and place

For more than 100 years the Trust has looked after places which connect the present and future with the past.

From ancient stone circles and Victorian cotton mills, to gardens, village streets and castles, these places are alive with history.

Looking after these places for the next generation is a creative, not a static, activity. This means embracing change and having new ideas of what is historically significant.

This never-ending dialogue between past, present and future has moved the greatest poets and painters. It is equally real and relevant to everyone today.

The leaflet History & Place (PDF/500KB) explains the importance of history and place to our lives today, exploring the role that immediate, direct and tangible contact with the evidence of the past can play in making sense of the world around us.

It argues that historic places should be valued not just for their own sake but for the opportunities they provide to support learning and skills development, promote well-being, stimulate creativity and innovation, involve people and communities, deepen understanding and learn from our past.

The Trust is committed to deepening understanding of our cultural heritage. We hope this leaflet will inspire all those with an interest in, or responsibility for, historic places to realise their potential for people today and tomorrow.

• Find out more about our conservation, heritage and learning work.