THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY
Registered Office
University College London, Institute of Archaeology, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY
President’s address: Department of Scottish History & Archaeology, National Museums Scotland, Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF. NOTE:
NMS are not associated with the content of any letter sent by the Society that cites this postal address
The Society is registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (no. 2532446) and is a registered charity (no. 1000567)
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Wednesday, 15 May 2013
To: Alistair Neill, Chief Executive, Herefordshire Council
Councillors Phillips, Powell, Jarvis, Atkinson, Bramer,
Hamilton, Hyde, Morgan, Nenadich, Price, Rone, Johnson,
Chapell, Hubbard, James, Greens and Bowen
Cc Jesse Norman MP, Bill Wiggin MP
By email
Dear Mr Neill and Councillors,
Cuts to Herefordshire Heritage Services
I am writing, on behalf of the Prehistoric Society – a scholarly society which has been promoting
prehistoric research and its dissemination since 1935 – to express in the strongest possible terms
our dismay at the announcement that the Council intends, over the next two years, to:
“Reduce or stop council funding of a range of services including those in the areas of leisure,
recreation and culture.”
I understand that there is a real danger that, if no alternative source of funding is found,
Herefordshire’s Museum Service may be dissolved and (in the worst case scenario) Herefordshire
Archaeology could be abolished. If this is really the case, then this is shocking news, and it will
destroy a fine tradition of archaeological conservation and heritage presentation, parts of which go
back to 1874 with the establishment of Hereford Museum and Art Gallery. I also understand,
however, that since Herefordshire Archaeology’s responsibilities encompass planning issues, this
may save it from abolition.
While we fully sympathise with the difficult position in which the Council finds itself, we find it
inconceivable that an entire sector of activity should be threatened with abolition, with long-term
and untold negative consequences. Herefordshire has fine archaeology, and the hard work
undertaken by Museum staff and by the County Archaeologist over the years – the latter
recognised in the richly-deserved award of an MBE to Dr Keith Ray – has meant that the County
has a museum and archaeology service of which it can be proud. The contribution that the
Museum Service has made to the community, and its key role as the repository of Herefordshire’s
very soul – namely its heritage, extending back to the Ice Age – was acknowledged by the HLF
when they funded the establishment of a cutting-edge storage facility in 2008. We would like to
highlight the economic and social value of the Museum Service and of Herefordshire
Archaeology in terms of:
 Caring for, and making accessible to all, Herefordshire’s rich heritage – thereby serving
the ‘quality of life’ and ‘identity’ issues that are so dear to the current Government
 Serving the education sector excellently through the activities of its Museum staff
 Attracting tourists to the city centre and to the other Museum sites around the country.
The museums provide a vital ‘shop window’ for all that is best in Herefordshire, and the
Museum and Art Gallery has a particularly important role to play in attracting footfall (and
expenditure) to the city centre.
I understand that no time has been made available to make plans in the event of having to dissolve the
collections. What are the legal implications of this, should it become necessary – especially in view of
the fact that the HLF has generously granted some of the facilities? What will happen to the invaluable
collections? When, if ever, will a decent archaeology and museum service get re-established if it is
abolished now?
I am emailing this to you all in the hope that it may be taken into consideration in your meeting
tomorrow. The Society feels deeply and passionately that understanding of the past is essential to the
life of a community. With increasing public interest in archaeology (as reflected, for example, in the
popularity of archaeological television programmes), heritage can play an increasing role in
community well-being and in economic regeneration, through tourism, if properly managed. If we do
not learn from history – and in particular, the disastrous consequences of where this kind of thing has
happened before – then we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. I therefore urge you to seek
ways of averting what would otherwise be a catastrophic decision, to the long-term reputational, social
and economic detriment of the County.
Thank you for your attention.
Yours sincerely
Dr Alison Sheridan
President
a.sheridan@nms.ac.uk