Cardiff

For many years now the recording and protection afforded to the historic environment has been bound within the provisions of a number legislative Acts of Parliament. Indeed, the Vale of Glamorgan has over 100 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, over 700 Listed Buildings and 38 Conservation Areas that are afforded statutory protection by legislation. However, this system of statutory recognition, by its nature, only takes account of items of exceptional significance. Often there are locally important buildings that although acknowledged not to be of ‘national ’ or ‘exceptional ’ importance, are considered key examples of vernacular architecture or buildings, which have an important local history. It is these buildings which are often the main contributors to local distinctiveness, but which have to date, remained un-surveyed and afforded little recognition or protection. The original County Treasures project was published by the then South Glamorgan County Council in the late 1970’s. It was conceived as a locally adopted inventory of ‘special features ’ in the former County area. However, as a result of local government restructuring, the changes to local authority boundaries, as well as changes in responsibilities and funding mechanisms the survey wa