Heritage comes in all different forms, shapes and sizes. When you think about where you live, what are the places and buildings that are important to you – the things that make you feel proud and have special meaning for your community?

As part of Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017, we asked people to tell us about the places in Scotland that matter to them. 2,000 people from across all of Scotland’s local authorities took part in the conversation about how Scotland’s places, buildings and monuments should be recognised and celebrated.

Among the diverse answers that came back were personal stories associated with locations in Scotland alongside places of national and international importance. One participant described their Dundee heritage at a workshop:

"There are sights, smells and sounds you don't experience anymore. The 1pm bell used to go off at factories. The opening of factory gates saw hundreds of people throng the streets. Phones and typewriters and police cars all sounded different. The noise of trams tooting, the conductor's bell on the No 73 bus in Dundee."

Download the full What's Your Heritage? consultation report and discover more of the passion and interest in the historic environment shown by Scotland's people.

Download the report

Sharing opinions

People also told us about their heritage in short videos.
Listen to the different views about Scotland's historic environment and discover what heritage means to them.

John Clancy, owner of The Laurieston in Glasgow, recounts the history of the pub and what heritage means to him.

Fiona Read, student, Forth Valley College, explains why the Clackmannanshire Tower Trail is so important to her and her family.

Barbara Cummins, Director of Heritage, shares her views on the What's Your Heritage? project and explains how her passion for a certain craft tradition connects her to places.

Jim Monaghan, Trust Administrator and Arts Coordinator at Govanhill Baths, Glasgow, explains his role and vision for the Baths.

Murray McIntyre shares his vivid memories and personal connection to the heritage of Falkirk Football Club.

David Taylor, freelance location manager, speaks about why he loves 1970s architecture.

 

Next steps

We are ready to use these responses to help us deliver Our Place in Time: The Historical Environment Strategy for Scotland and draft new historic environment policies that better reflect the needs and wants of the people of Scotland.

We will be able to action some changes quickly, while others will take more time to be developed and implemented.

Based on your feedback, we are going to:

  • analyse the results of the survey and workshops
  • outline the key issues raised
  • meet with wider heritage sector in Autumn 2017 to talk about the results and the key issues
  • develop key actions for the short, medium and long term with a timetable for their implementation
  • revise the designation criteria and advice and consents policy in the Historic Environment Scotland Policy Statement in 2018
  • keep everyone informed about how their input has changed what we do

 

Keep the conversation going on Twitter and Instagram with #myheritageis.

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