Editing Historic Scotland

{{Short description|Executive agency responsible for historic monuments in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name                 = Historic Scotland
| native_name          = {{lang|gd|Alba Aosmhor}}
| type                 = Executive agency 
| seal                 = 
| seal_size            = 
| seal_caption         = 
| seal_alt             = 
| logo                 = HistoricScotland.png
| logo_size            = 150px
| logo_caption         = Logo of Historic Scotland
| logo_alt             = 
| image                = 
| image_size           = 
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| formed               = {{Start date|1991}}
| preceding1           = 
| preceding2           =
| dissolved            = 1 October 2015
| superseding1         = [[Historic Environment Scotland]]
| agency_type          = 
| jurisdiction         = [[Scottish Government]]
| status               = Abolished 
| headquarters         = [[Longmore House]], [[Edinburgh]]
| coordinates          = <!-- {{coord|LATITUDE|LONGITUDE|type:landmark_region:US|display=inline,title}} -->
| motto                = 
| employees            = 
| budget               = 
| website              = {{URL|historic-scotland.gov.uk}}
| map                  = 
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}}

[[File:Historic Scotland offices, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh.JPG|thumb|Historic Scotland was based at [[Longmore House]], Edinburgh]]

'''Historic Scotland''' ({{langx|gd|Alba Aosmhor}})<ref>{{cite book | author = Harold Kalman | year = 2014 | title = Heritage Planning: Principles and Process | publisher = Routledge | pages = 54– | isbn = 978-1-317-70072-2 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=xiEhBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA54}}</ref> was an [[executive agency of the Scottish Government|executive agency]] of the [[Scottish Office]] and later the [[Scottish Government]] from 1991 to 2015, responsible for safeguarding Scotland's built heritage and promoting its understanding and enjoyment. Under the terms of a Bill of the [[Scottish Parliament]] published on 3 March 2014, Historic Scotland was dissolved and its functions were transferred to [[Historic Environment Scotland]] (HES) on 1 October 2015. HES also took over the functions of the [[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/73219.aspx |title=Historic Environment Scotland Bill |publisher=[[Scottish Parliament]] |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/rcahms-and-historic-scotland/about-historic-environment-scotland|title=About Historic Environment Scotland | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023110/http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/rcahms-and-historic-scotland/about-historic-environment-scotland | archive-date=November 17, 2015 | url-status=dead | website=rcahms.gov.uk}}</ref>

==Role==
Historic Scotland was a successor organisation to the Ancient Monuments Division of the [[Ministry of Works (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Works]] and the [[Scottish Executive Development Department|Scottish Development Department]]. It was created as an agency in 1991 and was attached to the [[Scottish Executive Education Department]], which embraces all aspects of the cultural heritage, in May 1999. As part of the Scottish Government, Historic Scotland was directly accountable to the [[Scottish Ministers]].

In 2002, proposals to restore [[Castle Tioram]] in the West Highlands by putting a roof back on were blocked by Historic Scotland, which favoured stabilising it as a ruin. This position was supported in an extensive local [[Public Inquiry]] at which the arguments for both sides were heard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/policyandguidance/inquiryreports.htm |title=Inquiry Reports: Castle Tioram |publisher=Historic Scotland |access-date=17 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127173053/http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/policyandguidance/inquiryreports.htm |archive-date=27 January 2008 }}</ref> It has been implied that this dispute has led to a review of the operations of the organisation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/historic-scotland-criticised-over-ruin-1-632763 |title=Historic Scotland criticised over ruin |date=December 12, 2002 |publisher=The Scotsman  | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711041635/http://www.scotsman.com/news/historic-scotland-criticised-over-ruin-1-632763 | archive-date=July 11, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

After widespread consultation, Historic Scotland published a comprehensive series of Scottish Historic Environment Policy papers, consolidated into a single volume, in October 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/policy/shep.htm |title=Scottish Historic Environment Policy |publisher=Historic Scotland  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412033921/http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/policy/shep.htm | archive-date=April 12, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The agency's ''Framework Document'' sets out the responsibilities of the Scottish Ministers and the agency's Chief Executive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/framework-document.pdf |title=Framework document 2012 |publisher=Historic Scotland  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609200319/http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/framework-document.pdf | archive-date=June 9, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Its Corporate Plan sets out its targets and performance against them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/corporate-plan-2008-2011.pdf |title=Corporate Plan 2008-2011 |publisher=Historic Scotland  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531013536/http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/corporate-plan-2008-2011.pdf | archive-date=May 31, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Historic Scotland and the [[Glasgow School of Art]]'s [[Digital Design Studio]] formed the Centre for Digital Documentation and Visualization to promote the documentation and 3D representation of heritage objects, architecture, and environments with laser scanning and 3D visualization software.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishten.org/index/about.htm |title=About the Scottish Ten |publisher=CDDV  | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415202419/http://www.scottishten.org/index/about.htm | archive-date=April 15, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Properties==
[[File:Historic Scotland Ranger Service.jpg|thumb|Historic Scotland Ranger Service driving through [[Holyrood Park]], Edinburgh]]
Historic Scotland had direct responsibility for maintaining and running over 360 monuments in its care, about a quarter of which are staffed and charge admission. These properties have additional features such as guidebooks, books, and other resources. Historic Scotland sought to increase the number of events run at its sites, most frequently designed to engage young people with history. Similarly, new museums and visitor centres were opened, notably at [[Arbroath Abbey]] and [[Urquhart Castle]]. There was also a [[hospitality]] section, which makes some properties available for [[wedding]] receptions and other functions.

==Membership==
Membership in Historic Scotland was promoted by the organisation, with benefits such as free entry to all their properties and over 400 events for the duration of the annual membership, as well as half-price entry to properties in [[England]] (under the care of [[English Heritage]]), [[Wales]] (under the care of [[Cadw]]), and the Isle of Man (under the care of [[Manx National Heritage]]), becoming free in subsequent years. Lifetime memberships were also available, and all members received the quarterly magazine 'Historic Scotland'.

==See also==
* [[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland]] 
* [[Scottish Ten]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Historic Scotland}}
*[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/ Official website]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Historic Environment Scotland| ]]
[[Category:Architecture in Scotland]]
[[Category:Executive agencies of the Scottish Government]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:2015 disestablishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1991]]
[[Category:Government agencies disestablished in 2015]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Edinburgh]]