About UAH

Since its formation in 1967, the UAH has established itself as the lead independent voice for the historic built environment across the nine counties of Ulster, a fearless campaigner for historic buildings, a generous resource of information on local architecture and a source of advice on conservation.

We have had much success in influencing public opinion in favour of conservation of our historic built environment. UAH campaigned successfully for the establishment of an Historic Buildings Council, statutory listing, historic buildings grants and conservation areas. We continue to monitor and make representations relating to planning and policy, and educate and inform through our events, publications and projects.

The Old Museum Building, home of the UAH.

UAH works in various ways to achieve our aims to promote the historic built environment, its protection, conservation and regeneration.

Our History

Ulster Architectural Heritage, formerly the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, was founded in 1967 in response to a growing awareness of the value of the historic buildings of Northern Ireland and the threats to their survival.

Over the last 60 years, the UAH has established itself as the lead independent voice for the historic built environment across the nine counties of Ulster. UAH has a founded reputation as a fearless campaigning body for historic buildings, a generous resource of information on local architecture and a source of advice on conservation. It is widely recognised as one of the most active of such groups in the British Isles and has pioneered a number of important initiatives.

When UAH was founded there was no statutory listing in the province. UAH campaigns led to the establishment of listed building legislation here in 1972. Soon after, the Grand Opera House and the Palm House at Botanic Gardens were among the first historic buildings to be listed in Northern Ireland. There was no Historic Buildings Council; no historic buildings grants; no conservation areas; and no public buildings record and no built heritage at risk register. All those things now exist, and the UAH has played no small part in their formation.

Advice and Guidance

Ulster Architectural Heritage freely provides independent baseline advice and guidance on issues relating to the historic built environment in Northern Ireland and across the 9 counties of Ulster. UAH provides an average of over 500 independent contacts per annum. Advice and guidance can range from planning and policy matters to conservation advice. If you have a query, you might find useful information in our Advice section or contact us if you require further assistance.

Advocacy

Whether buildings are grand or vernacular, listed or unlisted, UAHS seeks to support the laws and policies that exist to protect them and their settings, and to encourage measures that will reduce future loss of our irreplaceable historic buildings through encouraging appropriate and sympathetic planning decisions, and re-use through heritage led regeneration. Ulster Architectural Heritage works to promote the protection of the historic built environment- recognition of its fragility, and ways in which historic buildings might be better protected. If you are concerned about the protection of an historic building, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Publications

Publications by Ulster Architectural Heritage have appeared steadily since 1968. With over 50 books published to date. UAHS publications are used by academics, historians, architects and planners, and are widely collected as an invaluable resource on local history and buildings past and present. Our publications range from general books on local architecture to monographs on particular architects or houses. At the core are the historical gazetteers that describe nearly every building in many of Ulster’s towns with detailed descriptions and histories illuminated by anecdotes and numerous photographs. Other series focus on the architects of Ulster or a particular time period in Ulster’s architectural history. Ulster Architectural Heritage publications are available to purchase directly from UAH online, and are also available in good bookshops.

Events

Events by Ulster Architectural Heritage aim to engage audiences with the historic built environment, its protection, conservation and regeneration. From ‘behind the scenes’ visits, to lectures, tours and trips, we run an annual programme of events. Whether you would like to grow your interest in built heritage, or develop your knowledge further, UAH events cater for a variety of interests in our annual programme. Find out more about upcoming events here.

Heritage at Risk NI – HARNI

Since 1993, the UAH in partnership with the Historic Environment Division at Department for Communities (formerly Department of the Environment) has produced the Built Heritage at Risk Northern Ireland Register, (BHARNI). As part of this project, UAH surveys, records and monitors the status of over 500 buildings at risk in Northern Ireland. The primary aims of the BHARNI project are to highlight the vulnerability of our built heritage, to identify historically important buildings which appear to be at risk; and to act as a catalyst for their re-use. As part of this project, Ulster Architectural Heritage has developed the Directory of Traditional Building Skills.

Heritage Angel Awards NI

From 2017, UAH has managed and delivered the Heritage Angel Awards NI supported by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation (ALWF). The awards are aimed to acknowledge and profile the achievements of individuals, groups and communities in their projects and best practice to conserve, record, protect and celebrate heritage in Northern Ireland. Through the awards, we are able to highlight the importance of heritage projects and the work of the heritage sector to wider society, showcasing best conservation practice and construction in heritage work and skills. Overall, the awards aim to recognise and profile achievement, to inspire and increase activity to help conserve and protect built heritage. The Awards also take place in England, Scotland and Wales. Heritage Angel Awards is delivered in partnership with the Department for Communities – Historic Environment Division, Heritage Lottery Fund, Construction Industry Training Board NI, Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork, and the Heritage Trust Network.

Work With Us

Ulster Architectural Heritage is a charitable organisation and a company limited by guarantee. UAH works on key funded projects to promote built heritage, its protection, conservation and regeneration. This work is supported by local authorities, central government and lead funders for the heritage sector in Northern Ireland. Funded projects include 'Heritage At Risk Northern Ireland', funded by and in partnership with the Department for Communities Historic Environment Division, 'Heritage: In Your Hands' funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and 'Heritage Angel Awards', lead funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation. Ulster Architectural Heritage is also partly core funded by Belfast City Council.

In addition, Ulster Architectural Heritage operates as a consultancy for or partnership with other heritage organisations and central and local government departments to deliver adhoc, stand alone heritage projects across Northern Ireland. This includes research, education projects, events, conferences and publications. If you would like to work with Ulster Architectural Heritage on a partnership project, or to commission us in a consultancy capacity, please do not hesitate to contact us.

For more information on past projects and partnerships, and to learn more about the type of work that we do please visit our case studies page, or email your enquiry to info@uahs.org.uk.

Our Funders

Thank you to all our supporters, members, and funders.

Ulster Architectural Heritage (UAH) is core funded by the valuable support of approximately 300 members. The support of our members is the lifeblood of the organisation, this ensures that we are able to approach and bring in funding from other bodies to expand and diversify the ways in which we promote the protection, conservation and heritage led regeneration of our buildings, towns, and cities.

UAH is most thankful for the support of our members. Find out more about becoming a member here.

UAH is very grateful for the ongoing support of our funders. who support the delivery of key initiatives for the historic environment, these include:

The Heritage at Risk Register for Northern Ireland, funded by, and in partnership with, Historic Environment Division, the Department for Communities.
The Heritage Angel Awards Northern Ireland, lead funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.