It cares for numerous listed structures, landmarks, and resources, aiding in the preservation of Wales' heritage.
Currently, Cadw is celebrating an important milestone in its history – its 40th anniversary – which comes 75 years after the initial listing of historic structures in Wales began.
Translating to "protect" or "preserve" in Welsh, Cadw was established in fall 1984 as an organization under the Welsh Office and Wales Tourist Board. Its purpose is to safeguard and encourage tourism for Wales' national heritage.
It assumed responsibility for 10,500 listed structures and 2,700 monuments from the Department of the Environment, and since then, an additional 20,000 properties have received protective status through listing.
The initial batch of safeguarded heritage sites was announced in May 1949 and encompassed the primary structure at Bangor University as well as Bangor Town Hall — formerly the Old Bishop’s Palace, which dates back to the 16th century.
Powys leads with the highest number of listings among all Welsh counties, totaling almost 5,500 entries, trailed closely by Merthyr Tydfil, the smallest county in Wales, showcasing its strong industrial past.
The most distant one sits on a rock 16 miles (27 km) offshore from the Pembrokeshire coastline — the Smalls Lighthouse.
Above, we have generated a map that displays the locations of all 30,100 listings; clicking on the map will provide additional information about each one.
In addition to over 1,000 churches and 670 chapels, there are also more than 300 pubs, 94 castles, and 25 lighthouses.
In addition, there are roughly a dozen theaters and movie houses, 13 animal watering fountains, 11 bandshells in public parks, various mailboxes, along with five cannons, the perimeter wall of Swansea Prison, and a cabin at a former POW camp near Bridgend.
Another curiosity is an ancient windmill located close to a Pembrokeshire airfield, which was converted into a machine gun position during World War II.
Almost fifty percent of the listed assets belong to people's residences.
In Barry, within the Vale of Glamorgan, you can find 57 entries such as the lifeboat station and a public restroom.
The most recent site to receive protection is the railway station at Barry Island resort, which is noted for being a well-preserved example of a late 19th-century railway station structure.
Gwilym Hughes, who leads Cadw, stated: "Its unchanged nature makes it remarkable and it embodies the late-Victorian style associated with Barry. This area was developed as a new town when the station was constructed; consequently, it had existed for roughly ten years."
The establishment took place in 1884 as the construction of the docks began, leading to rapid growth from a tiny village into a bustling town with a population of around 30,000 inhabitants over roughly ten years.
This station tells the tale of the remarkable expansion of this industrial town and harbor.
Dennis Clarke resides at The Court in Cadoxton within Barry, where a Grade I listed dovecot stands — the sole Grade I listed structure in the town — traceable to over eight centuries ago.
He mentioned, 'Back then, you couldn’t afford a dovecot unless you were among the ultra wealthy.'
It would have served as a status symbol and also an essential provider of various resources, such as meat, feathers, eggs, and surprisingly, even gunpowder.
Inside, there were approximately 750 bird nesting holes, which suggests that about 1,500 birds along with their offspring likely inhabited the space.
Envision the commotion and odors the servants endured. Since we no longer have any birds in this space, I don't have to concern myself with cleaning up after them anymore.
Nearly a decade ago, Dennis took up residence in the property and offers Cadw-sanctioned guided tours.
He mentioned that according to one historian, it contains more history per square inch than any other place in Barry.
This is the sole remaining section of the initial manor house, according to Denis, who mentioned a tale suggesting it had been set ablaze by Owain Glyndwr, the final native Prince of Wales.
The structure was reconstructed by its owners during the 15th century; however, it later deteriorated. The current Grade II listed rectory, which serves as our residence, was constructed in 1873. It’s wonderful that the dovecot has managed to survive.
Having the opportunity to reside here is an honor, and this comes hand in hand with the duty to maintain it properly. Thus, when future generations arrive after us, they might share the same sentiment and keep up the good work of preservation.
Four decades since its establishment, Cadw’s efforts remain ongoing.
Over 50 Grade II listings have been granted since 2023, with 13 of those coming just this year.
The most recent one is Christ The King Catholic Church located in Builth Wells, Powys, which was established in the 1950s.
The structure was constructed according to the detailed requirements set forth by its parish priest, Father John O'Connell, an erudite individual with expertise not only as a clergyman but also as an author who penned a work on church architecture, thereby imbuing his personal architectural preferences into the project.
This year, three additional churches in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Swansea have been added to the list.
Another newly listed structure hailing from the Victorian era includes a garage along with accommodations thought to have been utilized by chauffeurs transporting aristocratic visitors to Colwyn Bay.
Additionally, three milestones created by Thomas Telford along the A5 Holyhead road in Gwynedd and Conwy have received protective status.
The 1970s modernist Aberystwyth arts center and university library are under interim protection as part of planned listings.
In 2023, significant Grade II listings were awarded to St David’s Hall in Cardiff and Plas Menai outdoor education center in Gwynedd.
Among the listings was a scarce 19th-century horse trough from Stackpole, Pembrokeshire, along with the Harlequin puppet theater in Rhos-on-Sea. Also included was the former residence near Montgomery belonging to Jerry Lordan, the songsmith behind hits for The Shadows; this property featured an additional cavern within its premises.
Mr. Hughes mentioned that Wales has among the highest percentages of historical structures in Europe, noting it was remarkable that approximately 30% of all homes date back to before World War I.
He stated: "Over the years, we have cataloged several unusual items from the apple stall in Mumbles, such as an eccentric sculpture. We’ve also listed a blue police telephone booth—there’s one in Newport and another in Tredegar; additionally, we even included a piece of coal."
It's not merely a lump; it's a massive 15-tonne piece of coal. This is the biggest chunk of coal that has ever been extracted and shaped, earning itself a place on the list.
"Only in Wales!"
- Upcoming open-door events and guided tours will take place in September across numerous registered sites as part of a Cadw initiative
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