Our archives

The HES Archives began collecting with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in 1908. Today, it holds more than two million items and continues to record all aspects of the historic environment in Scotland and beyond.

The Ancient Monuments Protection Act was passed in 1882, providing the first state protection for ancient monuments in the UK. In the early 1900s, there was a call to compile a comprehensive and detailed list of all the significant monuments in Scotland to help with this new legislation. 

Following a brief consultation by Sir John Sinclair, the Secretary for Scotland, King Edward VII established RCAHMS on 14 February 1908. 

Since 1908, thousands of historic places have been recorded and the archive now holds an extensive collection of architectural and archaeological drawings, plans and maps, photographic prints, library books, and journals and periodicals. 

Today, HES continues this work, and our archive and survey teams add new records to the archive every day. 

Survey and recording

Survey and recording archives from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) 1908-2015 and Historic Environment Scotland 2015 onwards. 

National, regional and specialist organisations

Archives from organisations merged into RCAHMS such as the Scottish National Buildings Record, the Ordnance Survey Archaeology Branch, the Scottish Industrial Survey and the Scottish Office Aerial Photographic Unit; and archives deposited by other organisations which relate to the historic environment, such as Northern Lighthouse Board, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and George Heriots Trust. 

Archaeological and excavation

Records and archive material from excavations, surveys and research into human activity from the Mesolithic era to the present day. (These do not include actual finds from archaeological digs).

Architecture

Archives from practices and individuals, including papers, drawings, photographs, portfolios, books and models from firms based in Scotland spanning the 19th to late-20th century such as Sir Basil Spence, William Burn and Sir Robert Lorimer. 

Photography

Archives from individuals such as Betty Willsher (historic graveyards), Tom E Gray (medieval carved stones) and Professor John R Hume (industrial); and historic photographic collections such as Aerofilms, Erskine Beveridge, John Forbes White, Scottish Countryside Commission and Scottish Power. 

Culture and heritage

The Scran Collection of digital images and resources from museums, galleries, archives, the media and individuals across the UK which represents Scotland’s shared material culture and heritage. The Survey of Private Collections contains photographic copies of private collections relating to Scotland’s built environment. 

Aerial photography

Historic aerial photographic collections, such as the Aerofilms collection, which includes photographs dating back to the 1920s. We also hold aerial survey photographs taken for the purposes of archaeological investigation. 

If you have material illustrating or documenting Scotland’s archaeology, buildings, industry or maritime heritage which might be of interest, we would like to hear from you. 

To discuss depositing archive material, please contact the Acquisitions and Loans Manager at archives@hes.scot or for an archive that comprises digital material, please contact the Digital Archives team at digital.archives@hes.scot. For larger accessions, it may be necessary for Historic Environment Scotland (HES) staff to view the material in order to assess it and plan its transfer. 

More information on depositing material on trove.scot

The Historic Environment Scotland Archives are an Accredited Archive Service, Core Trust Seal Accredited and a Place of Deposit under the Public Records Act. 

The archive is cared for by teams of specialist staff with skills in archiving (physical and digital), digital preservation, preventative and paper conservation, photography and digitisation, public services, engagement and librarianship. We follow established standards to ensure that the archive is both accessible and preserved for the future.

Our policies set out the purpose and guiding principles for the management of the archives and library at HES: