UK Act of Parliament 1979 United Kingdom

Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979

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At a glance

Enforced by

HES, Cadw

What's here

23 compliance obligations, 6 practical guides · 4 journeys

Penalty landscape

8 of 23 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 6 carry different penalties and 9 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 12
  • Director or Officer 1
  • Occupier 1

Plus 9 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Direct — cites this Act

4 guides

Supporting — topic alignment

1 guides

Mentioned in related content

1 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Occupiers also bound by 101 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1A — Inventories of gardens and designed landscapes and of battlefields

s.032

Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Historic Environment Scotland must maintain an inventory of gardens Statutory regulator
s.032

Inventory of battlefields

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Historic Environment Scotland must maintain an inventory of battlefields Statutory regulator

Part I — Ancient Monuments

s.001

Schedule of monuments.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must maintain and notify owners of scheduled monuments Crown / Minister / Government department
s.001

Commission’s functions as to informing and publishing.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Historical Commissions must notify owners of monument scheduling changes Statutory regulator
s.009

Execution of works required by scheduled monument enforcement notice

Fine up to £1,000
  • Obstructing officials during enforcement works at a scheduled monument Any Person
s.009

Offence where scheduled monument enforcement notice not complied with

Unlimited fine
  • Fail to comply with a scheduled monument enforcement notice Any Person
s.009

Penalties for contravention of stop notice

Unlimited fine
  • Fail to comply with a stop notice Any Person
s.009

Temporary stop notices: restrictions

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Historic Environment Scotland must restrict the use of repeat stop notices Statutory regulator
s.009

Temporary stop notices: offences

Unlimited fine
  • Breach a temporary stop notice for a scheduled monument Any Person
s.009

Temporary stop notices: compensation

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Historic Environment Scotland must compensate for stop notice losses Statutory regulator
s.009

Temporary stop notice: offence

Unlimited fine
  • Breach of a temporary stop notice for scheduled monuments Any Person
s.023

Local inquiries

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Scottish Ministers may hold local inquiries regarding ancient monuments Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 70 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.006

Commission’s powers of entry in relation to scheduled monuments.

s.009

Power to issue scheduled monument enforcement notice

s.009

Scheduled monument enforcement notices: further provisions

s.009

Appeal against scheduled monument enforcement notice

s.009

Effect of scheduled monument consent on scheduled monument enforcement notice

s.009

Stop notices

s.009

Stop notices: supplementary provisions

s.009

Compensation for loss due to stop notice

s.009

Temporary stop notices

s.009

Interdicts restraining unauthorised works on scheduled monuments

s.009

Heritage partnership agreement

s.009

Heritage partnership agreement: supplemental

s.009

Scheduled monument enforcement notice

s.009

Scheduled monument enforcement notice: supplementary provision

s.009

Scheduled monument enforcement notice: appeal

s.009

Scheduled monument enforcement notice: power of entry

s.009

Failure to comply with scheduled monument enforcement notice

s.009

Effect of scheduled monument consent on notice

s.009

Temporary stop notice

s.009

Temporary stop notice: power of entry

s.009

Temporary stop notice: compensation

s.009

Injunctions

s.023

Local inquiries: further provision

s.part i/paragraph/1aa

Duty to consult on certain amendments relating to the Schedule

s.part i/paragraph/1ab

Interim protection pending decisions on certain amendments relating to the Schedule

s.part i/paragraph/1ac

Provisions applicable on lapse of interim protection

s.part i/paragraph/1ad

Compensation for loss or damage caused by interim protection

s.part i/paragraph/1ae

Review of decisions on certain amendments relating to the Schedule

s.part i/paragraph/1b

Publication of the Schedule

s.part i/paragraph/1c

Appeal against inclusion etc. in Schedule of monuments

s.part i/paragraph/1d

Determination of appeals under section 1C

s.part i/paragraph/1e

Procedure for appeals under section 1C

s.part i/paragraph/3a

Application for variation or discharge of conditions

s.part i/paragraph/3b

Referral of certain applications to the Scottish Ministers

s.part i/paragraph/3c

Procedure for referrals under section 3B

s.part i/paragraph/4a

Modification and revocation of scheduled monument consent by Scottish Ministers

s.part i/paragraph/4b

Appeal in relation to scheduled monument consent

s.part i/paragraph/4c

Determination of appeals under section 4B

s.part i/paragraph/4d

Procedure for appeals under section 4B

s.part i/paragraph/9ca

Determination of appeals under section 9C

s.part i/paragraph/9cb

Procedure for appeals under section 9C

s.part i/paragraph/9fa

Enforcement by the Scottish Ministers

s.part i/paragraph/9ha

Power of the Scottish Ministers to serve stop notice

Part II — Archaeological Areas

Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part III — Miscellaneous and Supplemental

s.058

Offences by corporations.

2 years imprisonment
  • Director and officer liability for corporate offences Director or Officer
Browse 22 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.041

Register of historic parks and gardens in Wales

s.045

Development and understanding of matters of historic, etc. interest: grants and loans

s.052

The Broads.

Schedules

Browse 89 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
s.sch001

(1) Provision may be made by regulations under this Act...

s.sch001

(1) Except as provided for in paragraph 11, an order...

s.sch001

(1) Where sub-paragraph (2) applies, Historic Environment Scotland—

s.sch001

(1) The Secretary of State may refuse to entertain an...

s.sch001

As soon as practicable after receiving an application for scheduled...

s.sch001

(1) The Welsh Ministers may refuse to entertain an application...

s.sch001

(1) If Historic Environment Scotland, on an application to it...

s.sch001

The Scottish Ministers may give directions to Historic Environment Scotland...

s.sch001

(1) The Secretary of State may grant scheduled monument consent...

s.sch001

(1) This paragraph applies to applications for scheduled monument consent...

s.sch001

(1) Subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the...

s.sch001

(1) Before giving a direction under section 4 of this...

s.sch001

(1) If no objection to a proposed modification or revocation...

s.sch001

As soon as may be after giving a direction under...

s.sch001

(1) Where in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 5...

s.sch001

(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, subsections (2) to (5)...

s.sch001a

DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN APPEALS BY PERSON APPOINTED BY THE SCOTTISH MINISTERS

s.sch001a

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations prescribe classes of...

s.sch001a

(1) An appointed person is to have the same powers...

s.sch001a

(1) The Scottish Ministers may, if they think fit, direct...

s.sch001a

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by a further direction revoke...

s.sch001a

(1) At any time before the appointed person has determined...

s.sch001a

(1) Whether or not the parties to an appeal have...

s.sch001a

The functions of determining an appeal and doing anything in...

s.sch002

(1) A designation order made by the Secretary of State...

s.sch002

(1) The consultation required by sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 9...

s.sch002

Copies of the draft order and of the map to...

s.sch002

The local authority may make the order, either without modifications...

s.sch002

A designation order made by a local authority shall not...

s.sch002

If the Secretary of State confirms the order the local...

s.sch002

The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe the procedure...

s.sch002

Paragraphs 8, 9, 10 to 13, 14( a ) and...

s.sch002

(1) A designation order made by the Secretary of State...

s.sch002

(1) An order varying or revoking a designation order shall...

s.sch002

Before and on making an order varying or revoking a...

s.sch002

In relation to a designation order relating to an area...

s.sch002

Before making a designation order the Secretary of State shall—...

s.sch002

(1) In this Schedule “the area affected” means, in relation...

s.sch002

(1) The consultations required by sub-paragraphs (a)(aa) of paragraph 2...

s.sch002

Copies of the draft order and of the map to...

s.sch002

Copies of the draft order and of the map to...

s.sch002

The Secretary of State may make the order, either without...

s.sch002

On making the order, the Secretary of State shall—

s.sch002

(1) A designation order made by a local authority shall...

s.sch002

Before making a designation order a local authority shall—

s.sch002

Before making a designation order a local authority shall notify...

s.sch003

(1) Where an interim preservation notice is in force with...

s.sch003

In this Schedule— “interim preservation notice” means a notice served...

s.sch003

(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, where a guardianship order...

s.sch003

(1) Where within the period of three months immediately preceding...

s.sch003

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, where...

s.sch003

(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, where—

s.sch003

(1) Section 13(2) of this Act shall not apply to...

s.sch003

Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of the Field Monuments...

s.sch003

Any reference in any document (including an enactment) to an...

s.sch003

Nothing in the preceding provisions of this Schedule shall be...

s.sch004

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004

In section 131(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 (general...

s.sch004

In section 182(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973...

s.sch004

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004

In section 47(d) of the Coast Protection Act 1949 (saving...

s.sch004

(1) In sections 5(2)(b) and 8(1)(c) of the Historic Buildings...

s.sch004

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004

In section 6(4)(b) of the Land Powers (Defence) Act 1958...

s.sch004

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004

In section 3(3)(a) of the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961...

s.sch004

In section 2(5) of the Faculty Jurisdiction Measure 1964 (limit...

s.sch004

In section 7(8) of the Mines (Working Facilities and Support)...

s.schedule a1 para.1

This Schedule applies where interim protection ceases to have effect...

s.schedule a1 para.2

The fact that the interim protection has ceased to have...

s.schedule a1 para.3

Any proceedings on or arising out of an application for...

s.schedule a1 para.4

(1) Any scheduled monument enforcement notice served by the Welsh...

s.schedule a1 para.5

Any temporary stop notice served by the Welsh Ministers with...

s.schedule a1 para.6

Any proceedings on an application made by the Welsh Ministers...

s.schedule a2 para.1

(1) The Welsh Ministers may by regulations prescribe the classes...

s.schedule a2 para.2

(1) An appointed person has the same powers and duties...

s.schedule a2 para.3

(1) At any time before an appointed person has made...

s.schedule a2 para.4

(1) An appointed person may appoint an assessor to provide...

s.schedule a2 para.5

(1) The Welsh Ministers may direct that anything that would...

s.schedule a2 para.6

(1) An appointed person may delegate to another person anything...

s.schedule a2 para.7

Where an appointed person is a member of the staff...

Other sections — not classified into a Part

These sections exist in the Act but the contents-of-Parts walker did not place them under a Part. Likely amendments or sections inserted out of the original Part structure.

Browse 3 other unclassified sections
s.decisions on reviews by person appointed by welsh

DECISIONS ON REVIEWS BY PERSON APPOINTED BY WELSH MINISTERS

s.lapse of interim protection

LAPSE OF INTERIM PROTECTION

s.part i

Appeal against inclusion etc. in Schedule of monuments

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

HES

Primary

Historic Environment Scotland

Investigates, cares for, and promotes Scotland's historic environment. Designates listed buildings, scheduled monuments, and conservation areas in Scotland.

Cadw

Welsh Government's historic environment service. Protects, conserves, and promotes historic buildings, ancient monuments, and historic landscapes in Wales.

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Regulators

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