Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979

Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 17 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

  1. Introductory Text
  2. Part I Ancient Monuments
    1. Protection of scheduled monuments
      1. 1.Schedule of monuments.
      2. 1A.Commission’s functions as to informing and publishing.
      3. 1AA.Duty to consult on certain amendments relating to the Schedule
      4. 1AB.Interim protection pending decisions on certain amendments relating to the Schedule
      5. 1AC.Provisions applicable on lapse of interim protection
      6. 1AD.Compensation for loss or damage caused by interim protection
      7. 1AE.Review of decisions on certain amendments relating to the Schedule
      8. 1B.Publication of the Schedule
      9. 1C.Appeal against inclusion etc. in Schedule of monuments
      10. 1D.Determination of appeals under section 1C
      11. 1E.Procedure for appeals under section 1C
      12. 2.Control of works affecting scheduled monuments.
      13. 3.Grant of scheduled monument consent by order of the Secretary of State.
      14. 3A.Application for variation or discharge of conditions
      15. 3B.Referral of certain applications to the Scottish Ministers
      16. 3C.Procedure for referrals under section 3B
      17. 4.Duration, modification and revocation of scheduled monument consent.
      18. 4A.Modification and revocation of scheduled monument consent by Scottish Ministers
      19. 4B.Appeal in relation to scheduled monument consent
      20. 4C.Determination of appeals under section 4B
      21. 4D.Procedure for appeals under section 4B
      22. 5.Execution of works for preservation of a scheduled monument by Secretary of State in cases of urgency.
      23. 6.Powers of entry for inspection of scheduled monuments, etc.
      24. 6A.Commission’s powers of entry in relation to scheduled monuments.
      25. 7.Compensation for refusal of scheduled monument consent.
      26. 8.Recovery of compensation under section 7 on subsequent grant of consent.
      27. 9.Compensation where works affecting a scheduled monument cease to be authorised.
      1. 9ZA.Heritage partnership agreement
      2. 9ZB.Heritage partnership agreement: supplemental
      1. 9ZC.Scheduled monument enforcement notice
      2. 9ZD.Scheduled monument enforcement notice: supplementary provision
      3. 9ZE.Scheduled monument enforcement notice: appeal
      4. 9ZF.Scheduled monument enforcement notice: power of entry
      5. 9ZG.Failure to comply with scheduled monument enforcement notice
      6. 9ZH.Effect of scheduled monument consent on notice
      1. 9ZI.Temporary stop notice
      2. 9ZJ.Temporary stop notice: power of entry
      3. 9ZK.Temporary stop notice: offence
      4. 9ZL.Temporary stop notice: compensation
      1. 9ZM.Injunctions
      1. 9A.Power to issue scheduled monument enforcement notice
      2. 9B.Scheduled monument enforcement notices: further provisions
      3. 9C.Appeal against scheduled monument enforcement notice
      4. 9CA.Determination of appeals under section 9C
      5. 9CB.Procedure for appeals under section 9C
      6. 9D.Execution of works required by scheduled monument enforcement notice
      7. 9E.Offence where scheduled monument enforcement notice not complied with
      8. 9F.Effect of scheduled monument consent on scheduled monument enforcement notice
      9. 9FA.Enforcement by the Scottish Ministers
      10. 9G.Stop notices
      11. 9H.Stop notices: supplementary provisions
      12. 9HA.Power of the Scottish Ministers to serve stop notice
      13. 9I.Compensation for loss due to stop notice
      14. 9J.Penalties for contravention of stop notice
      1. 9K.Temporary stop notices
      2. 9L.Temporary stop notices: restrictions
      3. 9M.Temporary stop notices: offences
      4. 9N.Temporary stop notices: compensation
      1. 9O.Interdicts restraining unauthorised works on scheduled monuments
      1. 10.Compulsory acquisition of ancient monuments.
      2. 11.Acquisition by agreement or gift of ancient monuments.
      1. 12.Power to place ancient monument under guardianship.
      2. 13.Effect of guardianship.
      3. 14.Termination of guardianship.
      1. 15.Acquisition and guardianship of land in the vicinity of an ancient monument.
      2. 16.Acquisition of easements and other similar rights over land in the vicinity of an ancient monument.
      1. 17.Agreements concerning ancient monuments and land in their vicinity.
      1. 18.Powers of limited owners for purposes of sections 12, 16 and 17.
      1. 19.Public access to monuments under public control.
      2. 20.Provision of facilities for the public in connection with ancient monuments.
      1. 21.Transfer of ancient monuments between local authorities and Secretary of State.
      1. 22.Ancient Monuments Boards.
      2. 23.Annual reports of Ancient Monuments Boards.
      1. 23A.Local inquiries
      2. 23B.Local inquiries: further provision
      1. 24.Expenditure by Secretary of State or local authority on acquisition and preservation of ancient monuments, etc.
      2. 25.Advice and superintendence by Secretary of State.
      3. 26.Power of entry on land believed to contain an ancient monument.
      4. 27.General provisions as to compensation for depreciation under Part I.
      5. 28.Offence of damaging certain ancient monuments.
      6. 29.Compensation orders for damage to monuments under guardianship in England and Wales.
      7. 30.Disposal of land acquired under Part I.
      8. 31.Voluntary contributions towards expenditure under Part I.
      9. 32.Interpretation of Part I.
      1. 32A.Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes
      2. 32B.Inventory of battlefields
      1. 33.Designation of areas of archaeological importance.
      2. 34.Investigating authorities for areas of archaeological importance.
      3. 35.Notice required of operations in areas of archaeological importance.
      4. 36.Certificate to accompany operations notice under section 35.
      5. 37.Exemptions from offence under section 35.
      6. 38.Powers of investigating authority to enter and excavate site of operations covered by an operations notice.
      7. 39.Power of investigating authority to investigate in advance of operations notice any site which may be acquired compulsorily.
      8. 40.Other powers of entry on site of operations covered by an operations notice.
      9. 41.Interpretation of Part II.
      1. Register of historic parks and gardens in Wales
        1. 41A.Register of historic parks and gardens in Wales
        1. 42.Restrictions on use of metal detectors.
        1. 43.Power of entry for survey and valuation.
        2. 44.Supplementary provisions with respect to powers of entry.
        1. 45.Expenditure on archaeological investigation.
        2. 45A.Development and understanding of matters of historic, etc. interest: grants and loans
        3. 46.Compensation for damage caused by exercise of certain powers under this Act.
        4. 47.General provisions with respect to claims for compensation under this Act.
        5. 48.Recovery of grants for expenditure in conservation areas and on historic buildings.
        6. 49.Grants to the Architectural Heritage Fund.
        1. 50.Application to Crown land.
        2. 51.Ecclesiastical Property.
        3. 52.Application to the Isles of Scilly.
        4. 52A.The Broads.
        5. 53.Monuments in territorial waters.
        1. 54.Treatment and preservation of finds.
        2. 55.Proceedings for questioning validity of certain orders, etc.
        3. 56.Service of documents.
        4. 57.Power to require information as to interests in land.
        5. 58.Offences by corporations.
        6. 59.Prosecution of offences: Scotland.
        7. 60.Regulations and orders.
        8. 61.Interpretation.
        9. 62.Special provision for Scotland.
        10. 63.Supplemental
        11. 64.Transitional provisions, consequential amendments and repeals.
        12. 65.Short title, commencement and extent.
        1. SCHEDULE A1LAPSE OF INTERIM PROTECTION
          1. 1.This Schedule applies where interim protection ceases to have effect.
          2. 2.The fact that the interim protection has ceased to have.
          3. 3.Any proceedings on or arising out of an application for.
          4. 4.(1) Any scheduled monument enforcement notice served by the Welsh.
          5. 5.Any temporary stop notice served by the Welsh Ministers with.
          6. 6.Any proceedings on an application made by the Welsh Ministers.
          1. Decisions on reviews by appointed persons
            1. 1.(1) The Welsh Ministers may by regulations prescribe the classes.
            1. 2.(1) An appointed person has the same powers and duties.
            1. 3.(1) At any time before an appointed person has made.
            1. 4.(1) An appointed person may appoint an assessor to provide.
            1. 5.(1) The Welsh Ministers may direct that anything that would.
            1. 6.(1) An appointed person may delegate to another person anything.
            1. 7.Where an appointed person is a member of the staff.
            1. Part I Applications for Scheduled Monument Consent
              1. 1.(1) Provision may be made by regulations under this Act.
              2. 2.(1) The Secretary of State may refuse to entertain an.
              3. 2A.As soon as practicable after receiving an application for scheduled.
              4. 2B.(1) The Welsh Ministers may refuse to entertain an application.
              5. 2C.(1) If Historic Environment Scotland, on an application to it.
              6. 2D.The Scottish Ministers may give directions to Historic Environment Scotland.
              7. 3.(1) The Secretary of State or Historic Environment Scotland may.
              8. 3A.(1) This paragraph applies to applications for scheduled monument consent.
              9. 4.(1) Subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the.
              1. 5.(1) Before giving a direction under section 4 of this.
              2. 6.(1) If no objection to a proposed modification or revocation.
              3. 7.As soon as may be after giving a direction under.
              4. 8.(1) Where in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 5.
              5. 9.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, subsections (2) to (5).
              6. 10.(1) Except as provided for in paragraph 11, an order.
              7. 11.(1) Where sub-paragraph (2) applies, Historic Environment Scotland—
              1. Determination of appeals by appointed person
                1. 1.(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations prescribe classes of.
                1. 2.(1) An appointed person is to have the same powers.
                1. 3.(1) The Scottish Ministers may, if they think fit, direct.
                2. 4.(1) The Scottish Ministers may by a further direction revoke.
                1. 5.(1) At any time before the appointed person has determined.
                1. 6.(1) Whether or not the parties to an appeal have.
                1. 7.The functions of determining an appeal and doing anything in.
                1. Designation orders by the Secretary of State
                  1. 1.(1) A designation order made by the Secretary of State.
                  2. 2.Before making a designation order the Secretary of State shall—.
                  3. 3.(1) The consultations required by sub-paragraphs (a)(aa) of paragraph 2.
                  4. 4.Copies of the draft order and of the map to.
                  5. 5.Copies of the draft order and of the map to.
                  6. 6.The Secretary of State may make the order, either without.
                  7. 7.On making the order, the Secretary of State shall—
                  1. 8.(1) A designation order made by a local authority shall.
                  2. 9.Before making a designation order a local authority shall—
                  3. 9A.Before making a designation order a local authority shall notify.
                  4. 10.(1) The consultation required by sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 9.
                  5. 11.Copies of the draft order and of the map to.
                  6. 12.The local authority may make the order, either without modifications.
                  7. 13.A designation order made by a local authority shall not.
                  8. 14.If the Secretary of State confirms the order the local.
                  9. 15.The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe the procedure.
                  1. 15A.Paragraphs 8, 9, 10 to 13, 14( a ) and.
                  1. 16.(1) A designation order made by the Secretary of State.
                  1. 17.(1) An order varying or revoking a designation order shall.
                  2. 18.Before and on making an order varying or revoking a.
                  1. 19.In relation to a designation order relating to an area.
                  1. 20.(1) In this Schedule “the area affected” means, in relation.
                  1. 1.(1) Where an interim preservation notice is in force with.
                  2. 2.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, where a guardianship order.
                  3. 3.(1) Where within the period of three months immediately preceding.
                  4. 4.(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, where.
                  5. 5.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, where—
                  6. 6.(1) Section 13(2) of this Act shall not apply to.
                  7. 7.Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of the Field Monuments.
                  8. 8.Any reference in any document (including an enactment) to an.
                  9. 9.Nothing in the preceding provisions of this Schedule shall be.
                  10. 10.In this Schedule— “interim preservation notice” means a notice served.
                  1. 1.Consequential amendments
                  2. 2.In section 47(d) of the Coast Protection Act 1949 (saving.
                  3. 3.(1) In sections 5(2)(b) and 8(1)(c) of the Historic Buildings.
                  4. 4.Consequential amendments
                  5. 5.In section 6(4)(b) of the Land Powers (Defence) Act 1958.
                  6. 6.In section 17(2) of the Building (Scotland) Act 1959 (requirements.
                  7. 7.In section 3(3)(a) of the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961.
                  8. 8.In section 2(5) of the Faculty Jurisdiction Measure 1964 (limit.
                  9. 9.In section 7(8) of the Mines (Working Facilities and Support).
                  10. 10.Consequential amendments
                  11. 11.Consequential amendments
                  12. 12.Consequential amendments
                  13. 13.In section 131(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 (general.
                  14. 14.In section 182(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
                  15. 15.Consequential amendments
                  16. 16.In section 111 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 (protection.