HEIR - Historic Environment Image Resource 2

HEIR - The Historic Environment Image Resource is an innovative digital platform dedicated to the preservation and analysis of historic visual documentation. Utilizing archival glass plate and lantern slide photographs, HEIR provides valuable insights into environmental and landscape changes over time, offering a resource for researchers studying climate trends, human impacts, and the conservation of endangered sites and archaeological features.

This collection offers an opportunity to compare historical and contemporary landscapes, enabling users to explore how environments and built heritage have evolved over the past century. With thousands of images available, the platform facilitates local exploration by encouraging users to locate nearby historical sites, re-photograph them, and contribute their findings to a global research community.

The free HEIR application includes features such as access to tens of thousands of historic images, a specialized overlay tool for guided re-photography, and participation in an international network focused on monitoring environmental and heritage change. Contributions help build a comprehensive database that supports ongoing research into landscape transformation and preservation efforts.

Funded by The Reva and David Logan Foundation and the University of Oxford, HEIR aims to connect users directly with their environments’ historical narratives. Further details are available at www.heirtagger.ox.ac.uk/about/about-us.