Scotland's Rural Past

Scotland’s Rural Past (SRP) is a five-year Heritage Lottery Fund project launched in October 2006. It plans to inspire over 40 projects with local volunteers aimed at researching, recording and interpreting historic rural settlements and landscapes.

SRP's four-strong team works with communities across Scotland to improve understanding and awareness of an often neglected piece of Scottish heritage. They provide expert training, advice and support for volunteers throughout their projects and ensure that the information they gather becomes accessible to a wider audience through the RCAHMS database and the SRP project website.

The project is also supporting communities to raise awareness of their rural past locally and nationally through a wide range of access and educational initiatives.The SRP website has full details, including forthcoming events and the results of investigations being carried out by project participants throughout Scotland.

The work of SRP features in a four-part series on BBC Radio 4 called Ankle High History.

SRP was shortlisted for Best Archaeological Project at the 2008 British Archaeological Awards.