National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens - Eligibility

Eligibility

Eligibility for the register is based around documentary research and field survey which attempts to classify and date each park according to set criteria. These are:

• Parks and gardens with a main phase of development prior to 1750 even when only a small part is still evident.
• Sites with a main phase of development dating to between 1750 and 1820 where enough of the park or garden's landscape survives to reflect the original design.
• Sites with a main phase of development between 1820 and 1880 which is deemed important and survives relatively intact.
• Sites with a main phase of development between 1880 and 1939 where this is of high importance and survives intact.
• Sites with a main phase of development laid out since the Second World War, but are more than 30 years old, where the park or garden is of exceptional importance.
• Sites influential in the development of taste whether through repute or literary references.
• Sites which are early or representative examples of a style of layout, or type, or the work of a landscape architect of national importance.
• Sites with an association with significant people or historical events.
• Sites with strong group value, as with some Listed Buildings.

As with Listed Buildings, parks and gardens are graded on a scale, Grade I being internationally significant sites are therefore the most important and constitute around 10% of the total number. Historically important gardens are Grade II* (about 30% of the total) and the remainder are of regional or national importance and are Grade II registered.