Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Japanese Government Policies in Education, Science, Sports and Culture 2000 > Part 1 Chapter 4 Section 1 3

The system for cultural properties protection in the U.K. has undergone many changes since the Ancient Monuments Protection Act was passed in 1882. Basic legislation that remains effective in the present day includes the Revised Law Concerning Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas 1971, the Town and Country Planning Act, the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953, and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

Cultural properties that have been made the subject of protection by these laws can be classified broadly into: (1) historic buildings; (2) conservation areas; (3) monuments; (4) ancient relics; and (5) fine and applied artworks (over fifty years old). Although there is no system equivalent to Japan's system for intangible cultural properties and folk-cultural properties, traditions corresponding to intangible cultural properties such as stage arts are recognized and honored by other systems designed for that purpose.

The Town and Country Planning Act governs the protection of historic buildings and establishes measures for various forms of protection, such as prohibiting changes to registered buildings which are recognized to have architectural or historical value. In addition, the law also focuses on the protection of conservation areas which have particular architectural or historical value and whose characteristics and appearance are desirable to protect and maintain.

The Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act includes such protective measures as prohibiting changes to those above-ground or below-ground buildings, structures and other works, as well as caves and excavation sites, whose protection has determined to be of national significance and which have been recorded in the Ledger of Important Monuments, based on a report by the Ancient Monuments Commission.

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act stipulates the protection of ancient monuments, requiring prior notification for changes made to areas which have been designated as archaeologically important areas. Where it is deemed necessary, due to trespassing on the site, etc., excavation studies take place.

In addition, authorization is required in order to export more than a certain amount of fine and applied works such as artworks, documents, and archaeological artifacts that are more than fifty years old, in order to prevent the drain of fine and applied artworks from the country.

The aforementioned Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission, which is primarily run by government funding and private contributions, plays an important role in the protection of cultural properties in the U.K. by offering advice on activities conducted by the DCMS such as the registration of ancient sites to be protected and the granting of permission to alter such sites, purchasing ancient sites and historic buildings itself in order to protect them, providing grants toward protective measures taken by individuals or organizations, and conducting related research and surveys.

The National Heritage Memorial Fund also provides assistance to organizations attempting to acquire cultural heritage such as historic buildings and fine and applied artworks in order for the public good.

Furthermore, the National Trust, a private volunteer organization which was established in 1895 in order to preserve the art and history of the U.K. for the British people, purchases land or historic buildings which are in danger of destruction, or manages them with the contributions it receives. The National Trust currently has 2.5 million members, and owns 270,000 hectares of land as well as approximately 500 buildings and parks which charge admittance. (Based on information from the National Trust).