Data copyright © Cranborne Chase AONB unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Emma
Rouse
Wyvern Heritage and Landscape
2 Fonthill Cottages
Hindon Lane
Tisbury
Wiltshire
SP3 6QD
Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) is an archaeological method used to define and map the historic and archaeological dimension of the present day landscape. It forms part of a National Programme developed by English Heritage in the early nineties and is continually evolving with ongoing development and changes in methodology, technology and application.
HLC is concerned with the totality of the landscape, providing a broad overview of the complexity of the historic environment in a given area. It is concerned with mapping the commonplace and locally distinctive and identifying time depth in the landscape. Mapping and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) plays a central role in both the creation of the HLC dataset and in the presentation of the results.
This report presents the results and findings of the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty HLC. The primary purpose of the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB is to conserve and enhance natural beauty. The AONB cannot achieve this purpose without a fuller understanding of the landscapes’ cultural and historic evolution. Historic Landscape Characterisation will help provide this fuller understanding.