Historic assets and their significance: Country houses & gardens of South Pembrokeshire c.1700-c.1850

This thesis critiques how practitioners working within the historic environment use concepts of interest and value to establish significance, in order to inform conservation decisions. I apply Cadw criteria for evaluating heritage values to assess the significance of historic assets whilst arguing the contribution of research value. The historic assets studied in this thesis are registered parks and gardens, garden structures, listed country houses, associated outbuildings and scheduled ancient monuments, c.1700-1850. These are located in south Pembrokeshire. This geographical area contains historic assets in high density. With OS grid references, it includes: Great House Landshipping SN 02020 11150, Coedcanlas SN 00800 08700, Lawrenny Hall and Castle SN 01500 06700, Kilgetty House SN 13500 08450, Orielton SR 95450 99030, Stackpole Court SR 97760 96160, Picton Castle SN 01076 13430 and Cresselly House SN 06456 06543. To establish significance, I use three research methods informed by practice guidance (1) Documentary research (2) Fieldwork (3) Remote sensing. Documentary sources are of two types: secondary (reports, subject related books and journal articles) and primary (monuments records, historic maps, books, illustrations and documents). During fieldwork, photographic survey of each historic asset was undertaken. Recent aerial photographs and LIDAR data were identified. These findings are used to inform the assessment of significance using the heritage values. This process is articulated in a statement of significance for each historic asset. The analysis of architectural detail and related primary documentary sources establishes the extent to which aesthetic, evidential and historical value contribute to significance. This thesis argues that registered parks and gardens, listed buildings and associated historical documents possess research value, making a contribution to significance. This argument challenges the exclusive concept that only scheduled ancient monuments possess research potential. The thesis recommends further research for each historic asset. This could include invasive archaeology and remote sensing of the parks and gardens with the aim of validating historic documentary sources or filling gaps in the documentary record. Invasive archaeology of the houses is often problematic, usually executed as a watching brief of building repairs. Further architectural analysis and documentary research would assist this process. This thesis recommends that a case study be undertaken of an historic asset under threat from development. This case study would explore the Cadw heritage impact assessment guidance in practice. It should also take into account Cadw’s communal value, by surveying the views of the public concerning threats and changes to historic assets