History and heritage
Thousands of years of human activity have influenced the Chilterns National Landscape, leaving behind a legacy of archaeological sites, buildings and routeways.
The Chilterns is a landscape that has seen many millennia of change and settlement, from the first humans that arrived in Britain to the growth of modern towns. Its wealth of grasslands, woodlands, chalk stream valleys and fertile soils have drawn human life and activity. This long history of heritage and culture is integral to the identity of the region. The Chilterns is one of the richest archaeological and historic landscapes in the country. This abundance of evidence for our human story in one special place deserves not only recognition and understanding, but also protection and support.
The Chilterns National Landscape is overseen by the Chilterns Conservation Board (CCB). We understand that the region is a living, breathing landscape, where people and nature are inextricably tied together. As such, our core work and flagship projects focus on the relationships and links between the landscape and human life. Whether we are looking to discover new Iron Age hillforts, or capturing the stories of those that worked in traditional industries, we consider how the topics, challenges and opportunities of each theme that we champion affect the special qualities of this wonderful landscape as whole.
We work to look after our heritage and culture now and for future generations.
Explore
Prehistoric Chilterns
From Neanderthal hunters to Iron Age chieftains, tens of thousands of years of human life have shaped the Chilterns landscape.
Historic Chilterns
Prehistoric settlements came and went, but the Romans brought changes that reflected a new permanence to human ways of life.
Industrial Chilterns
Industries of all types have thrived for years along the riverbanks, in the woodlands, and on hills of the Chilterns.
Chilterns Rural Industries and Crafts
The woods and villages of the Chilterns were alive with chairmaking, wood-working, straw plaiting, lacemaking and beading.
Living in the landscape
For thousands of years, people have been living in the Chilterns, making changes to the landscape and in turn being changed and inspired by it.
Bookable experiences
Hillforts of the Chilterns
Discover the timeline of the Chilterns
Plan your trip to the Chilterns!
