The Isle of Wight Historic Landscape Characterisation Project

Historic Landscape Characterisation is a technique developed by English Heritage and various County Archaeological Units to identify and describe historic components in the landscape. The Isle of Wight County Archaeologist, Ruth Waller, secured grant funding from English Heritage to carry out a local HLC Project which was completed in 2008 and the HLC report can be downloaded below.


HLC is based on a study of key elements in the landscape such as field patterns, woodland, downland, heathland and settlement. Areas with similar characteristics were plotted onto a digital map base using GIS (Geographic Information System) software and the characteristics of each area were entered onto a database. HLC data was then used to produce maps covering many aspects of the historic landscape both at the present day and in the past.

The Archaeology and Historic Environment Service collaborated with the Isle of Wight Countryside Section and the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) Unit to ensure an exchange of data. All three Sections are now using identical GIS software following a review carried out by the Planning Services Best Value Officer. External funding for this software was secured through the AONB Unit. The HLC Project was able to use digitised ecological data held by the Countryside Section and, in turn, supplied the Countryside Section and AONB Unit with information on the Island’s historic landscape character. HLC results also form a significant input into the new AONB Management Plan which has been adopted by the Isle of Wight Council.



The outcomes of the HLC Project include the digital data generated by the project and a report prepared for English Heritage and the Isle of Wight Council, which can be downloaded below. HLC places archaeological sites and finds recorded within the Historic Environment Record (HER) in a landscape context and feeds information about the historic environment into the HER. It is hoped that HLC data will inform Strategic Planning and Development Control, as well as contributing to Supplementary Planning Guidance. It should assist in the management of the historic environment by providing information for Conservation Area Appraisals, Village Design Statements, Environmental Stewardship proposals and Woodland Grant schemes.

HLC offers enormous potential for engaging Island communities and encouraging them to contribute local knowledge of the historic environment. Another area that might offer great educational benefits would be the use of HLC data to interpret the historic landscape to schools via an interactive website.

Download the completed HLC Report here:

Isle of Wight Historic Landscape Characterisation Report Volume 1 – Text
Isle of Wight Historic Landscape Characterisation Report Volume 2 – Illustrations