ANCIENT MONUMENTS PROTECTION ACT, 1900.
[63 & 64 Vict. Ch. 34.]
1. Where the Commissioners of Works are of opinion that the preservation of any monument is a matter of public interest by reason of the historic, traditional, or artistic interest attaching thereto, they may, at the request of the owner, consent to become the guardians thereof; and thereupon the Ancient Monuments Protection Act, 1882, shall apply to such monument as if the same were an ancient monument to which that Act applies as donned in that Act.
Provided that this Act shall not authorise the Commissioners of Works to consent to become the guardians of any structure which is occupied as a dwelling-place by any person other than a person employed as a caretaker thereof, and his family.
2.—(1.) The council of any county, if they think fit, may purchase by agreement any monument situate in such county or in any adjacent county, and may, at the request of the owner, consent to become the guardians of any such monument, and may undertake or contribute towards the cost of preserving, maintaining, and managing any such monument, whether they have purchased the same or become the guardians thereof or not
(2.) The powers conferred by the Ancient Monuments Protection Act, 1882, upon the owners of ancient monuments, and the incorporation by that Act of the Lands Clauses Acts for the purpose of a purchase by agreement, shall have effect in relation to a county council and to any monument as defined by this Act, and section six of the Ancient Monuments Protection Act, 1882 (which relates to penalties for injury to ancient monuments), shall apply to any monument (as so defined) of which a county council are owners or guardians.
3. The Commissioners of Works or any county council may receive voluntary contributions towards the cost of maintenance and preservation of any monument of which they may become the guardians or purchasers under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments Act, 1882, or this Act, and may enter into any agreement with the owner of such monument or with any other person as to such maintenance and preservation and the cost thereof.
4. The Commissioners of Works and the council of any county may, in respect of any monument in the county or in any adjacent county of which they are the owners or guardians, but where they are guardians only then with the consent of the owners, enter into and carry into effect any agreements for the transfer from the Commissioners of Works, to the Council or from the Council to the Commissioners of Works of such monument, or of any estate or interest therein, or of the guardianship thereof.
