Regional research framework

The East of England Regional Research Framework for the Historic Environment covers the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and is available online.

It makes use of an online hub developed collaboratively with Historic England which brings together disparate resources for anyone engaged in historic environment research in the region.

The Regional Research Framework was comprehensively reviewed and updated during 2018–20 by ALGAO East of England, funded by Historic England.

It augments Research and Archaeology, the research framework for the eastern counties published in two parts in 1997 and 2000, and revised in 2011. Research and Archaeology was never intended to be a fixed point but rather a dynamic process through which the region’s historic environment can be influenced, and subject to periodic review and revision.

Research and Archaeology was the first regional research framework in England. Developed by ALGAO East, it originally included Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and was intended to provide a firm foundation for archaeological work — generating high quality research and ensuring that the full potential of PPG investigations would be realised.

Research and Archaeology follows the structure envisaged by English Heritage and set out in Frameworks for Our Past (Olivier 1996):

  • Resource assessment: the current state of knowledge and understanding.
  • Research agenda: gaps in knowledge, potential of resource, research topics.
  • Research strategy: priorities and methods for achieving research aims.