Appendix 1

Research methodology

1. Interviews with a wide range of individuals and organisations.

2. Detailed advice from an Advisory Committee, chaired by John Lewis, Chairman of the Attingham Trust. See Appendix 2. The Advisory Committee, meeting at regular intervals, has made many valuable contributions: in particular the members have been responsible for extending the survey from its original relatively narrow scope to a much wider remit, including archaeological sites and places of worship. Members of the Advisory Committee have suggested many sites to visit and people to interview. Several have carried out site visits or have commented on this document at draft stage.

3. A UK and Republic of Ireland-wide site survey, based on a database of over 400 historic sites which advertised education provision, was accumulated between 2001 and 2003. An initial questionnaire was sent to these sites to determine the extent of this provision. On the basis of these findings, 100 sites, which offered a range of educational services, were asked to complete a fuller questionnaire, to which 88 responded. Their responses were analysed for statistical purposes, and the results are given in the document compiled by Alan Kirwan. Since a number of the properties interviewed have requested confidentiality, they are not individually listed here.

4. 110 site visits made by the research team, and by local researchers, throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. During these site visits 22 questions, formulated with the Advisory Group, were asked to establish basic statistics of visitor numbers and records, staffing (including volunteers), programmes for schools (including pre-school visits for teachers), adult and life-long learning, family visits, outreach and connections with adult education bodies, e.g. teacher training colleges and universities. Other questions covered the importance of education within the institutions, space allotted for educational visits, provision for foreign speakers, marketing, evaluation and funding including sponsorship. These site visits also provided the basis for many of the case studies.

5. A series of twelve colloquia held from October 2002 to January 2004 in various parts of the United Kingdom, and in Dublin. These events, each studying a specific topic, were convened and chaired by dedicated and knowledgeable specialists and were attended by representatives of a wide range of organisations. (The colloquia are listed in Appendix 3.).

6. A research project on ICT and the heritage, carried out by Lorna Melody (funded by the Department for Education and Skills.)