Meet the Curator event, for A Centenary of Care exhibition

This year we celebrate a century of protecting Northern Ireland’s past. The Ancient Monuments Act 1926 was a turning point, the first legislation for Northern Ireland safeguarding our archaeological monuments. It gave the Ministry of Finance, with advice from archaeologists and leading public figures in the form of an advisory committee, the power to schedule monuments, issue Preservation Orders, and bring sites into State Care. The results were remarkable: within a few years, 330 monuments were scheduled and 28 placed in State Care. Though later replaced by new legislation*, the spirit of the 1926 Act still guides everything we do.

To mark its arrival, HM Stationery Office published Ancient Monuments of Northern Ireland, a guide to 22 of the 25 monuments then in state care. This exhibition, presents photographs from the Historic Environment Record of Northern Ireland (HERoNI) and stories of 40 monuments now under state care, including those original 22. Today, Northern Ireland’s Historic Environment Division (HED) manages 187 State Care Monuments and more than 2,000 Scheduled Historic Monuments.

* Historic Monuments Act (Northern Ireland) 1971, and later the Historic Monuments and Archaeological Objects (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Come meet the curator of A Centenary of Care and learn all about the fascinating history behind the display. This is an in-person event and an opportunity to learn about the captivating monument in the ‘Centenary of Care’ exhibition.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher DfC Historic Environment