The archive gives access to over 323,000 colour images, each of which is matched with the item's listed designation architectural description.

Each entry on the database consists of a single, representative photograph and a text listing, written by historic building experts within English Heritage.

This may be for a variety of reasons, e.g., because the building no longer existed, it could not be found, or the photograph did not pass the quality assurance process.

[2] In some instances, a house owner did not give permission for the photograph to be taken on their private land, or may have asked to be included in the exemption scheme.

[8] In response, English Heritage introduced an exemption scheme, whereby owners of listed buildings with a maximum of two households were able to register for an exclusion from the database until 2013.

[2] Much of the success of the finished project is due to the enthusiasm and thoroughness of the volunteers who hunted down buildings and tried to find the best angle for the photograph in often not ideal circumstances.