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Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979

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Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, Section 61 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 17 April 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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61 Interpretation.E+W

(1)In this Act—

  • F1...

  • “ancient monument” has the meaning given by subsection (12) below;

  • “area of archaeological importance” means an area designated as such under section 33 of this Act;

  • [F2“the Commission” means the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England;]

  • “designation order” means an order under that section;

  • [F3 “development consent” means development consent under the Planning Act 2008; ]

  • F1...

  • “enactment” includes an enactment in any local or private Act of Parliament, and an order, rule, regulation, byelaw or scheme made under an Act of Parliament;

  • “flooding operations” means covering land with water or any other liquid or partially liquid substance;

  • “functions” includes powers and duties;

  • “guardianship deed” has the meaning given by section 12(6) of this Act;

  • F1...

  • “land” means—

    (a)

    in England and Wales, any corporeal hereditament;

    (b)

    in Scotland, any heritable property;

    including a building or a monument and, in relation to any acquisition of land, includes any interest in or right over land;

  • “local authority” means—

    (a)

    in England F4..., the council of a county or district, F5... the council of a London borough, and the Common Council of the City of London;

    (aa)

    F6...

    (b)

    in Scotland, the planning authority within the meaning of Part IX of the M1Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973;

  • “monument” has the meaning given by subsection (7) below;

  • “owner”, in relation to any land in England and Wales means (except for the purposes of F7... paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 1 to this Act and any regulations made for the purposes of that paragraph) a person, other than a mortgagee not in possession, who, whether in his own right or as trustee for any other person, is entitled to receive the rack rent of the land, or where the land is not let at a rack rent, would be so entitled if it were so let;

  • “possession” includes receipt of rents and profits or the right to receive rents and profits (if any);

  • “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State;

  • “the Schedule” has the meaning given by section 1(1) of this Act;

  • “scheduled monument” has the meaning given by section 1(11) of this Act and references to “scheduled monument consent” shall be construed in accordance with section 2(3) F8... and 3(5) of this Act;

  • F9...

  • “tipping operations” means tipping soil or spoil or depositing building or other materials or matter (including waste materials or refuse) on any land; and

  • [F10“universal postal service provider” means a universal service provider within the meaning of [F11Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011]; and references to the provision of a universal postal service shall be construed in accordance with [F12that Part].]

  • “works” includes operations of any description and, in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provision) flooding or tipping operations and any operations undertaken for purposes of agriculture (within the meaning of [F13the Town and Country Planning Act 1990] or, as regards Scotland, [F14the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997] or forestry (including afforestation).

(2)In this Act “statutory undertakers” means—

(a)persons authorised by any enactment to carry on any railway, light railway, tramway, road transport, water transport, canal, inland navigation, dock, harbour, pier or lighthouse undertaking, or any undertaking for the supply of F15..., F16... [F17or hydraulic power];

(b)F18... the Civil Aviation Authority, the F19..., [F20a universal postal service provider in connection with the provision of a universal postal service] and any other authority, body or undertakers which by virtue of any enactment are to be treated as statutory undertakers for any of the purposes of [F21the Town and Country Planning Act 1990] or of [F14the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997]; and

(c)any other authority, body or undertakers specified in an order made by the Secretary of State under this paragraph.

[F22(2A)The undertaking of a universal postal service provider so far as relating to the provision of a universal postal service shall be taken to be his statutory undertaking for the purposes of this Act; and references in this Act to his undertaking shall be construed accordingly.]

F23(2B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)For the purposes of sections 14(1) and 21(2) of this Act and paragraph 6(1)(b) and (2)(b) of Schedule 3 to this Act a person shall be taken to be immediately affected by the operation of a guardianship deed relating to any land if he is bound by that deed and is in possession or occupation of the land.

(4)For the purposes of this Act “archaeological investigation” means any investigation of any land, objects or other material for the purpose of obtaining and recording any information of archaeological or historical interest and (without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provision) includes in the case of an archaeological investigation of any land—

(a)any investigation for the purpose of discovering and revealing and (where appropriate) recovering and removing any objects or other material of archaeological or historical interest situated in, on or under the land; and

(b)examining, testing, treating, recording and preserving any such objects or material discovered during the course of any excavations or inspections carried out for the purposes of any such investigation.

(5)For the purposes of this Act, an archaeological examination of any land means any examination or inspection of the land (including any buildings or other structures thereon) for the purpose of obtaining and recording any information of archaeological or historical interest.

(6)In this Act F24... references to land associated with any monument (or to associated land) shall be construed in accordance with section 15(6) of this Act.

(7)“Monument” means (subject to subsection (8) below)—

(a)any building, structure or work, whether above or below the surface of the land, and any cave or excavation;

(b)any site comprising the remains of any such building, structure or work or of any cave or excavation; F25...

(c)any site comprising, or comprising the remains of, any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other movable structure or part thereof which neither constitutes nor forms part of any work which is a monument within paragraph (a) above; F26...

F26(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

and any machinery attached to a monument shall be regarded as part of the monument if it could not be detached without being dismantled.

F27(7A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8)Subsection (7)(a) above does not apply to any ecclesiastical building for the time being used for ecclesiastical purposes, and subsection (7)(c) above does not apply—

(a)to a site comprising any object or its remains unless the situation of that object or its remains in that particular site is a matter of public interest;

(b)to a site comprising, or comprising the remains of, any vessel which is protected by an order under section 1 of the M2Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 designating an area round the site as a restricted area.

(9)For the purposes of this Act, the site of a monument includes not only the land in or on which it is situated but also any land comprising or adjoining it which appears to the Secretary of State [F28or the Commission] or a local authority, in the exercise in relation to that monument of any of their functions under this Act, to be essential for the monument’s support and preservation.

(10)References in this Act to a monument include references—

(a)to the site of the monument in question; and

(b)to a group of monuments or any part of a monument or group of monuments.

(11)References in this Act to the site of a monument—

(a)are references to the monument itself where it consists of a site; and

(b)in any other case include references to the monument itself.

(12)“Ancient monument” means—

(a)any scheduled monument; and

(b)any other monument which in the opinion of the Secretary of State is of public interest by reason of the historic, architectural, traditional, artistic or archaeological interest attaching to it [F29, except any monument situated wholly or mainly in Wales].

(13)In this section “remains” includes any trace or sign of the previous existence of the thing in question.

Extent Information

E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only.

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 61(1) inserted (1.3.2010) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), s. 241(8), Sch. 2 para. 20 (with s. 226); S.I. 2010/101, art. 2 (with art. 6)

F9The definition of "statutory maximum" in s. 61(1) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. XIV Group 2

F10S. 61(1): definition of “universal postal provider” inserted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 45(2)

F14Words in s. 61(1)(2)(b) substituted (27.5.1997) by 1997 c. 11, ss. 4, 6(2), Sch. 2 para. 29(2)

F19Words in s. 61(2)(b) repealed (31.10.1994) by virtue of 1994 c. 21, s. 67, Sch. 9 para. 22, Sch. 11 Pt. II; S.I. 1994/2553, art. 2

F20Words in s. 61(2)(b) substituted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 45(3)

F22S. 61(2A) inserted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 45(4)

F25Word in s. 61(7) omitted (W.) (21.5.2016) by virtue of Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 4), ss. 22(2)(a), 41(2)

Marginal Citations

61 Interpretation.S

(1)In this Act—

  • “ancient monument” has the meaning given by subsection (12) below;

  • “area of archaeological importance” means an area designated as such under section 33 of this Act;

  • [F30“the Commission” means the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England;]

  • “designation order” means an order under that section;

  • [F3 “ development consent ” means development consent under the Planning Act 2008; ]

  • “enactment” includes an enactment in any local or private Act of Parliament, and an order, rule, regulation, byelaw or scheme made under an Act of Parliament;

  • “flooding operations” means covering land with water or any other liquid or partially liquid substance;

  • “functions” includes powers and duties;

  • “guardianship deed” has the meaning given by section 12(6) of this Act;

  • “land” means—

    (a)

    in England and Wales, any corporeal hereditament;

    (b)

    in Scotland, any heritable property;

    including a building or a monument and, in relation to any acquisition of land, includes any interest in or right over land;

  • “local authority” means—

    (a)

    in England F31..., the council of a county or district, F32... the council of a London borough, and the Common Council of the City of London;

    (aa)

    [F33in Wales, the council of a county or county borough;]

    (b)

    in Scotland, the planning authority within the meaning of Part IX of the M3Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973;

  • “monument” has the meaning given by subsection (7) below;

  • “owner”, in relation to any land in England and Wales means (except for the purposes of paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 1 to this Act and any regulations made for the purposes of that paragraph) a person, other than a mortgagee not in possession, who, whether in his own right or as trustee for any other person, is entitled to receive the rack rent of the land, or where the land is not let at a rack rent, would be so entitled if it were so let;

  • [F34 “ period for compliance ” is to be construed in accordance with section 9B(1) and (2); ]

  • “possession” includes receipt of rents and profits or the right to receive rents and profits (if any);

  • “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State;

  • “the Schedule” has the meaning given by section 1(1) of this Act;

  • “scheduled monument” has the meaning given by section 1(11) of this Act and references to “scheduled monument consent” shall be construed in accordance with section 2(3) and 3(5) of this Act;

  • F35. . .

  • “tipping operations” means tipping soil or spoil or depositing building or other materials or matter (including waste materials or refuse) on any land; and

  • [F36“universal postal service provider” means a universal service provider within the meaning of [F11Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011]; and references to the provision of a universal postal service shall be construed in accordance with [F12that Part].]

  • “works” includes operations of any description and, in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provision) flooding or tipping operations and any operations undertaken for purposes of agriculture (within the meaning of [F37the Town and Country Planning Act 1990] or, as regards Scotland, [F38the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997] or forestry (including afforestation).

(2)In this Act “statutory undertakers” means—

(a)persons authorised by any enactment to carry on any railway, light railway, tramway, road transport, water transport, canal, inland navigation, dock, harbour, pier or lighthouse undertaking, or any undertaking for the supply of F39..., F40... hydraulic power or water ;

(b)F41... the Civil Aviation Authority, the F42..., [F43a universal postal service provider in connection with the provision of a universal postal service]and any other authority, body or undertakers which by virtue of any enactment are to be treated as statutory undertakers for any of the purposes of [F44the Town and Country Planning Act 1990] or of [F38the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997]; and

(c)any other authority, body or undertakers specified in an order made by the Secretary of State under this paragraph.

[F45(2A)The undertaking of a universal postal service provider so far as relating to the provision of a universal postal service shall be taken to be his statutory undertaking for the purposes of this Act; and references in this Act to his undertaking shall be construed accordingly.]

(3)For the purposes of sections 14(1) and 21(2) of this Act and paragraph 6(1)(b) and (2)(b) of Schedule 3 to this Act a person shall be taken to be immediately affected by the operation of a guardianship deed relating to any land if he is bound by that deed and is in possession or occupation of the land.

(4)For the purposes of this Act “archaeological investigation” means any investigation of any land, objects or other material for the purpose of obtaining and recording any information of archaeological or historical interest and (without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provision) includes in the case of an archaeological investigation of any land—

(a)any investigation for the purpose of discovering and revealing and (where appropriate) recovering and removing any objects or other material of archaeological or historical interest situated in, on or under the land; and

(b)examining, testing, treating, recording and preserving any such objects or material discovered during the course of any excavations or inspections carried out for the purposes of any such investigation.

(5)For the purposes of this Act, an archaeological examination of any land means any examination or inspection of the land (including any buildings or other structures thereon) for the purpose of obtaining and recording any information of archaeological or historical interest.

(6)In this Act references to land associated with any monument (or to associated land) shall be construed in accordance with section 15(6) of this Act.

(7)“Monument” means (subject to subsection (8) below)—

(a)any building, structure or work, whether above or below the surface of the land, and any cave or excavation;

(b)any site comprising the remains of any such building, structure or work or of any cave or excavation; F46...

(c)any site comprising, or comprising the remains of, any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other movable structure or part thereof which neither constitutes nor forms part of any work which is a monument within paragraph (a) above; [F47 and

(d)any site (other than one falling within paragraph (b) or (c) above) comprising any thing, or group of things, that evidences previous human activity;]

and any machinery attached to a monument shall be regarded as part of the monument if it could not be detached without being dismantled.

(8)Subsection (7)(a) above does not apply to any ecclesiastical building for the time being used for ecclesiastical purposes, and subsection (7)(c) above does not apply—

(a)to a site comprising any object or its remains unless the situation of that object or its remains in that particular site is a matter of public interest;

F48(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(9)For the purposes of this Act, the site of a monument includes not only the land in or on which it is situated but also any land comprising or adjoining it which appears to the Secretary of State [F49or Historic Environment Scotland] [F50or the Commission] or a local authority, in the exercise in relation to that monument of any of their functions under this Act, to be essential for the monument’s support and preservation.

(10)References in this Act to a monument include references—

(a)to the site of the monument in question; and

(b)to a group of monuments or any part of a monument or group of monuments.

(11)References in this Act to the site of a monument—

(a)are references to the monument itself where it consists of a site; and

(b)in any other case include references to the monument itself.

(12)“Ancient monument” means—

(a)any scheduled monument; and

(b)any other monument which in the opinion of the Secretary of State is of public interest by reason of the historic, architectural, traditional, artistic or archaeological interest attaching to it.

(13)In this section “remains” includes any trace or sign of the previous existence of the thing in question.

Extent Information

E2This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only.

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 61(1) inserted (1.3.2010) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), s. 241(8), Sch. 2 para. 20 (with s. 226); S.I. 2010/101, art. 2 (with art. 6)

F34Words in s. 61(1) inserted (30.6.2011 for specified purposes, 1.12.2011 in so far as not already in force) by Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 3), ss. 6(3), 33(2); S.S.I. 2011/174, art. 2, Sch.; S.S.I. 2011/372, art. 2, Sch.

F35The definition of "statutory maximum" in s. 61(1) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. XIV Group 2

F36s. 61(1): definition of “universal postal service” inserted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 45(2)

F38Words in s. 61(1)(2)(b) substituted (27.5.1997) by 1997 c. 11, ss. 4, 6(2), Sch. 2 para. 29(2)

F42Words in s. 61(2)(b) repealed (31.10.1994) by virtue of 1994 c. 21, s. 67, Sch. 9 para. 22, Sch. 11 Pt. II; S.I. 1994/2553, art. 2

F43Words in s. 61(2)(b) substituted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 45(3)

F45S. 61(2A) inserted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 45(4)

F49Words in s. 61(9) inserted (27.2.2015 for specified purposes, 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014 (asp 19), s. 31(2), sch. 2 para. 52 (with ss. 29, 30); S.S.I. 2015/31, art. 2, sch.; S.S.I. 2015/196, art. 2, sch.

Marginal Citations

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