The Northern Ireland Monuments and Buildings Record (MBR)

Monuments and Buildings Record (MBR) holds information on all elements of the built environment in the form of databases, written records, maps, photographic, drawn and digital material.

Accessing the information in the MBR

Material held in the MBR can be accessed in a number of ways. Many of our records are available through online databases. A public research facility, the Pat Collins Reading Room, is also open to the public, where material can be consulted in person, or requests for information can be submitted in writing, by email or telephone - Contact us.

Access to the MBR is free, however search fees may be charged for handling detailed or lengthy enquiries or those undertaken for commercial purposes. Every effort will be made to provide comprehensive information, but the MBR is an evolving resource and material held in it is in varying stages of completeness and accessibility. We are working towards placing as much material as possible online, as it becomes available.

For further information see - Monuments and Buildings Record.

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 Northern Ireland Buildings Database holds information on over 9,000 historic buildings and each building is recorded individually. Most of these buildings have been listed for their special architectural or historic interest. Those that are not listed have been recorded as 'record only' on the database as part of the Second Survey of Northern Ireland's buildings. Whilst these buildings did not meet listing criteria many nevertheless make a valuable contribution to the built heritage or record thereof.

The Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) 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 Building Heritage At Risk in Northern Ireland (BHARNI) Register highlights the vulnerability of our historic built environment and will act as a catalyst for its restoration and reuse.

The BHARNI Register contains a selection of listed buildings, scheduled monuments and other historic structures from throughout Northern Ireland - ranging from humble dwellings to large industrial complexes - which are currently at risk and require a sustainable future.

BHARNI register has been commissioned by us and is compiled by the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society.

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 resurvey of historic buildings throughout Northern Ireland.

The Register of Historic Parks, Gardens and Demesnes (.PDF 746Kb) contains 154 sites that have been selected as being worthy of protection though the planning process. A further 150 sites have been identified as having a high level of interest and are included as an appendix to the main Register as designated 'Supplementary' sites.

The Heritage Gardens Inventory (.PDF 597 Kb) contains a comprehensive archive for over 700 historic parks, gardens and demesnes in the province.

The Maritime Record contains information on shipwrecks and intertidal 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.