New research from Historic England suggests emotional connection to historic places is fundamental to our wellbeing, as its chairman Lord Neil Mendoza explains in an article in Arts Professional.

According to compelling new research from Historic England and the University of Glasgow, our emotional connections to historic places are fundamental to our mental health and wellbeing – and they’re quietly shaping the economic geography of the nation. The report, Connecting People and Place: Valuing the Felt Experiences of Historic Places, presents findings that should give pause to anyone involved in planning, development or regeneration. Historic places, the research shows, possess restorative qualities comparable to natural green spaces. That Victorian pier or Edwardian cinema isn’t just picturesque, it’s doing genuine psychological work.

“The deep connections people form with historic buildings and places help to explain why they really matter,” say Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, co-CEOs of Historic England. “It also sheds light on why proposed change and development in our cities, towns and villages, which are brimming with heritage, brings about such strong public feeling.”

Read the full article in Arts Professional.