The administration of English national heritage has been characterised by substantial institutional and legislative complexity and fragmentation, including the widespread development of partnerships of various kinds between government, on the one hand, and the private and voluntary sectors on the other, as well as a proliferation of NGOs and quasi-government organisations. In the 18^th and early 19^th centuries, a prominent part was played by ‘gentleman scholars’, collecting specimens and artefacts from around the world. Some of these collections subsequently formed the basis for national and local museums. Legal protection of ancient monuments began with legislation passed in 1882. The late 19^th century also saw the first introduction of death duties, partly ameliorated by later initiatives to allow houses and works of art to be surrendered in lieu of death duties. As English national heritage is a vast, complex and amorphous subject, the author begins with a general conceptual and definitional overview, then describes the development of an administrative infrastructure (including both governmental and non-governmental bodies) for heritage. Attention is also drawn to the development of legislation and institutional arrangements for protecting historically important buildings and ancient monuments, thus highlighting the interplay between public and private interests. Finally the article examines some relevant fiscal issues, looking at rural heritage, with special reference to national parks, and concluding with a short case-study of the history of the British Museum.