Guidance and Resources
Before you get started
This page provides a step-by-step approach to understanding and identifying Cornish distinctiveness. Heritage assets, places and landscapes make up the historic environment in Cornwall. Anyone can follow these steps, and there are examples to support understanding.
The Assessment Framework and associated guidance are not intended to be definitive. The interpretation of distinctiveness is an active process that will continue to evolve.
This resource presents a four-stage framework for exploring distinctiveness. It is an introduction to robust evidence bases. These can inform the design of places and make better defensible decisions about them.
Assessments
This resource includes an Assessment Template, Worksheet, and further information about Heritage Monitors. These forms provide a place for users to gather information and enhance the Historic Environment record.
The choice of form will depend on the situation. Further detail is provided on Common Areas of Application and Guidance Notes.
Read through all four stages of the Framework and the associated notes before using any form.
The stages are described below. You will find helpful links, resources and examples to guide you through the process.
The Cornish Distinctiveness Assessment Framework
The Framework is in four stages. The stages should help you define and understand the subject. They will also help to inform future actions.
The stages are:
- Define your subject.
- Identify its distinctive attributes.
- Determine the significance of the distinctiveness.
- Draw conclusions to inform actions.
Each stage of the Framework builds on the previous. Stages 2 and 3 draw on approaches and principles to help substantiate the assessment.
Stage 1: Define your subject.
Describe the heritage site or place you are assessing. This may be a building, monument, area, or landscape. Structures and features should not be considered in isolation. They affect one another as well as the environment in which they exist. You will want to consider wider aspects like gates, pathways, stiles, hedges, and walls. All these features contribute to character and distinctiveness.
Further guidance and resources and worked examples
Stage 2: Identify its distinctive attributes.
The Cornwall Historic Environment Cultural Distinctiveness and Significance Project categorised two approaches:
- Particular to Cornwall (Approach 1) and,
- Typical to Cornwall (Approach 2).
Stage 2 established what elements are Particular and Typical to Cornwall. It considered how these elements, attributes or qualities contribute to its distinctiveness.
Approach 1 - Particular to Cornwall
Approach 1, Particular to Cornwall, usually includes historic structures, archaeological sites or artefacts. It can also include methods and styles derived from local ways of doing things. These include techniques employed in hedge building or slate roofing. They also include ways of setting out fields and villages.
Approach 1 contains two main subsets: Approach 1a and Approach 1b.
- Approach 1a. Elements of the historic environment entirely or almost entirely restricted to Cornwall. These are usually found in a particular part of Cornwall, or type of historic landscape. These elements are usually distinctive to their local area of Cornwall.
- Approach 1b. Elements of the historic environment which exist elsewhere but especially in Cornwall. They may have a distinct Cornish form. These elements will have developed first in Cornwall, before spreading to other parts of the world.
Many subjects which fall under Approach 1 will already be designated heritage assets. These are likely either Listed Buildings or Scheduled Monuments. They may be a significant part of a designated landscape. Part of a World Heritage Site, National Landscape or Conservation Area. Others may be ‘undesignated heritage assets’. These should recorded in the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Historic Environment Record.
Approach 2 – Typical to Cornwall
Approach 2 identifies elements of the historic environment that are Typical to Cornwall. This approach describes five main themes. These themes contribute to making the wider historic character of Cornwall distinctive. These subjects may not be uniquely Cornish. They will make a strong contribution to the distinctiveness of a place. They are important when appreciating the character and value. This may be for a particular locality or for all of Cornwall.
These themes are:
- Language
- Economy
- Topography
- Natural environment
- Spirit
Further guidance and resources and worked examples
Stage 3: Determine the significance of the distinctiveness.
Stage 3. This explores a subject’s intangible quality and potential public benefit. Consider the ways that people will value the building, site, or place. How might the subject reinforce a sense of place and identity. This will involve assessing the subject in relation to the four Heritage Values. These are set out in Conservation Principles (English Heritage 2008).
These values are:
- Historical value: in what ways are past people, events and aspects of life connected to us through the form of character of the place?
- Communal value: what does the place mean for the people who relate to it? How does it figure in their collective experience or memory?
- Aesthetic value: how are people stimulated by the look, sound, smell of the place and by what those qualities might represent?
- Evidential value: in what ways is there potential for the place to yield to us more about its past and other past activities?
This will be most successful in consultation with a range of people. This approach helps ensure a wide spectrum of views and perspectives.
It is important to remember that some assets may not have obvious ‘distinctiveness’. If it is not already recognised elsewhere, this stage allows intangible significance to be captured.
If the subject has a statement of significance, it may be helpful to use the statement as a starting point. This may be from a previous heritage designation or formal heritage assessment. Use the four values to ensure distinctive qualities have been identified.
Further guidance and resources and worked examples
Stage 4: Draw conclusions to inform actions.
Stage 4 identifies how the subject’s distinctiveness should inform its future management. It identifies opportunities to use this assessment to shape place-shaping and design.
Based on Stages 1- 3, prepare a statement setting out the subject’s distinctive qualities. Identify how this distinctiveness should inform protection, management, place-making and design.
To support the use of the Assessment Framework, we have prepared a set of 10 Guidance Notes on the most common areas of application. They align with the Heritage Cycle values found in the Strategy for Cornwall's Historic Environment.
These values are:
- Caring for Cornwall’s historic environment.
- Valuing Cornwall’s historic environment.
- Understanding Cornwall’s historic environment.
- Enjoying Cornwall’s historic environment.
Further guidance and resources and worked examples