Only a small proportion of buildings in Britain (about 2.5%) are listed by the Department of National Heritage as being of special architectural or historic interest. Listing protects an irreplaceable part of our cultural heritage from unsympathetic changes and unnecessary destruction.
All buildings listed before 1700 which survive in anything like their original form are listed as most are built between 1700 and 1840. Between 1840 and 1914 the range of buildings listed becomes more selective. More recent buildings of special character may also be listed. The special interest of a building is not always visible; for example, an important ancient timber frame may be hidden behind later plaster or brickwork.
You can see the register of listed buildings in Carlisle District below. Every listed building is identified and briefly described. Only the main features may be described but the whole building is listed, including the interior; there is no such thing as a listed interior, exterior or single facade. Later additions, outbuildings, garden walls and associated structures are also protected by listing even if they are not mentioned in the list description.
