The Monuments and Buildings Record

NIEA-Built Heritage
5-33 Hill Street,
Belfast
BT1 2LA
Tel: 028 9054 3004/ 3006
Fax: 028 9054 3111
e-mail: mbr@doeni.gov.uk

Access to the MBR is free of charge, although some enquiries may incur search fees.

Conditions of Entry apply to all visitors.
Open Monday - Friday (except public holidays)
9.30 am - 1.00 pm
2.00 pm - 4.30 pm
There are restaurants, sandwich bars, cafes and pubs nearby. Car parks and metered street parking are available locally. The MBR and visitor toilets are accessible for wheelchair users.

Collections

The Monuments and Buildings Record (MBR) holds data on all elements of the built environment in the form of databases, written, photographic and drawn material. MBR makes available information on archaeological, architectural, industrial and maritime sites, as well as historic gardens and designed landscapes and the statutory lists of scheduled historic monuments and listed buildings.

The Sites and Monuments Record is a map-based record with data on 14,500 archaeological sites and historic monuments, ranging from prehistoric tombs to post-medieval settlements. The SMR index is available as a database and digital map.

The Industrial Heritage Record is a map-based archive of over 18,000 industrial sites.

The Architectural Record holds information on thousands of historic buildings, including the statutory 'lists'. A database is being created which will include information gathered during the current second survey of historic buildings throughout Northern Ireland.

The Heritage Gardens Inventory contains records for nearly 700 gardens, parks and demesnes.

The Maritime Record contains information on shipwrecks and inter-tidal sites from the province's coastline. The Defence Heritage Project (part of the Defence of Britain Project) collects information on Northern Ireland's 20th- century military structures. The MBR holds over 50,000 publicly accessible black and white photographs, as well as thousands of colour slides and drawings of much of our archaeological, architectural and industrial heritage. The MBR Collections Archive contains over 40,000 drawings, notably those of 20th-century architects John McGeagh, Philip Bell and Robert McKinstry. It also includes Works Service files, which record the architecture of many of our public buildings from the 1920s onwards. The MBR also holds on loan a number of collections appropriate to its range of interests. These include the University of Cambridge aerial photographs, the John Seeds architectural collection and the industrial heritage archive assembled by W A McCutcheon, which includes over 27,000 photographs. Other MBR holdings include the Clokey Collection of Stained Glass Window Designs and a number of photographic collections.

Search Fees:

Search fees may be charged for handling detailed or lengthy enquiries, or those undertaken for commercial purposes.

Contact MBR staff in advance to discuss fees.

For enquiries:

Tel: (028) 9054 3004/ 3006
Fax: (028) 9054 3111
e-mail: mbr@doeni.gov.uk

While every effort will be made to provide comprehensive information, the MBR is an evolving resource and material held within it is in varying stages of completeness and accessibility. Many of the databases are currently being enhanced and computerised and it is intended that they will ultimately be made available for remote access via this web site.

Conditions of Entry

All visitors must sign in at the start of each visit and are required to state the purpose of the enquiry. Visitor passes will be issued and must be worn at all times. Visitors to the MBR are reminded that many documents available for consultation are unique and irreplaceable and should be handled with care. The use of pens in the MBR is not permitted.

Visitors wishing to use laptop personal computers are advised to consult MBR staff beforehand.

The MBR is a no smoking area and food and drink should not be consumed within it.

Copyright, Photographic Reproductions and Photocopying

The Environment and Heritage Service holds copyright on much of the material in the MBR, under delegation from Her Majesty's Stationery Office, and specific written authority must be sought to reproduce, publish or exhibit it. Copyright fees are usually levied, but may be waived if the material is to be used for educational or non-profit making purposes. Copies of photographs, transparencies, drawings or text can be supplied on request subject to copyright restrictions. Request forms, copyright forms and information on costs are available from MBR staff

Standards of Service

The Monuments and Buildings Record aims to provide:

• free access to data and collections via the MBR search room
• answers within 15 working days from receiving requests for information, or notification if a full reply will take longer
• the despatch of photographic prints, photocopies, etc within 15 working days.

MBR staff aim to be professional and courteous at all times. If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, speak to the person you have been dealing with. If you are still dissatisfied, please write to the MBR Manager

If we do make a mistake we will apologise and take action to put matters right.