Commentary on Sections Part 2 — Monuments of special historic interest Chapter 6 — Acquisition, guardianship and public access Section 44 — Acquisition by agreement or gift of monuments of special historic interest
159.Section 44 provides the Welsh Ministers and local authorities with the power to acquire, by agreement or gift, a monument of special historic interest. In the case of a local authority the power to acquire a monument by agreement is limited to monuments in, or in the vicinity of, its area (subsection (2)). In Wales, a number of monuments have been acquired by the Welsh Ministers through agreement or gift including Neath Abbey, Dolforwyn Castle and Blaenavon Ironworks. The most recent is the medieval royal court of the princes of Gwynedd, Llys Rhosyr on Anglesey, acquired in 2023. Several local authorities have similarly acquired monuments either through gift, such as Cardiff Castle (Cardiff City Council), or purchase agreement, such as Caldicot Castle (Monmouthshire County Council).