Catalogue description Records of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings

Prior to 1970 work on ancient monuments was carried out by the Ministry of Public Building and Works and responsibility for historic buildings was held by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. These duties essentially evolved from the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 which expanded upon the provisions of the 1944 and 1947 Town and Country Planning Acts to include the protection of buildings which were privately owned.

The Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 empowered the minister to appoint Historic Buildings Councils for England, Wales and Scotland. The role of the Historic Buildings Council for England initially was to advise the Minister of Works on the exercise of his powers to make grants and loans towards the repair and maintenance of historical buildings, to acquire such buildings, or to assist the National Trust or local authorities to acquire them. The councils were also given more general responsibilities in relation to historic buildings. The councils were provided with secretarial services by the Ministry's Ancient Monuments Branch as well as the advisory services of the architectural and archaeological staff.

In 1966 responsibility for the Historic Buildings Councils was transferred to the Minister for Housing and Local Government, and then to the Secretary of State for the Environment in 1970, except for Welsh monuments which became the responsibility of the Welsh Office.

Within the Department of the Environment, duties were divided between a small Directorate of Ancient Monuments and Special Services, and Division 1 of Planning Directorate C. In 1972 a larger, unified Directorate of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings was created. This directorate was responsible for the policy on the conservation of ancient monuments and historic buildings and also for royal parks and palaces, museums and galleries.

The Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972 gave the Historic Buildings Council the additional duty of advising the Secretary of State on his power to make grants or loans towards the cost incurred in the promotion, preservation or enhancement of outstanding conservation areas.

By 1980 responsibility for education at suitable historical sites was included within the duties of the Directorate of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings.

In 1984, the Historic Buildings Council for England (together with the Ancient Monuments Board for England) was dissolved by the National Heritage Act 1983. This act set up the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England (better known as 'English Heritage') to which the council's responsibilities were transferred.

In 1987 the Directorate of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings was renamed the Heritage and Royal Estate Directorate.