Catalogue description Ancient Monuments Board for Wales: Minutes

The first Ancient Monuments Board for Wales was formally appointed for a term of five years on March 31st 1914; this period was extended to six years because of the 1914-1918 War. The second board was appointed in 1920 and subsequent appointments were made for five year terms but the fifth Board was asked to continue for the duration of the Second World War. Under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 the board was directed to send the Minister of Works annual reports and the Annual Reports of the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales for 1954 and subsequent years have been published as White Papers.

From 1969 the Secretary of State for Wales has been responsible for ancient monuments in Wales, but the Department of the Environment undertakes the administration and maintenance of the monuments.

The board is the official advisory body to the Secretary of State on ancient monuments in Wales. It regularly makes recommendations giving statutory protection to monuments by scheduling under the Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act, 1913 and the Ancient Monuments Act, 1931; it also considers and makes recommendations on a very wide variety of other matters relating to the care and preservation of such monuments.