Cadw

Cadw is the Welsh Government's historic environment service, operating as a division within government rather than as an arm's-length body. It is responsible for designating and protecting listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered historic parks and gardens, and registered historic landscapes across Wales, and for providing expert heritage advice to Welsh Ministers and local planning authorities.

The organisation administers grant schemes to support the repair and maintenance of historic buildings and sites, and works in partnership with local authorities, heritage organisations, and communities to promote understanding of Wales's exceptionally rich built and archaeological heritage — one of the most concentrated in Europe.

Cadw also manages over 130 historic properties in the care of the Welsh Government, including the Edwardian castle circuit of Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech, and Beaumaris — together designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

The name Cadw derives from a Welsh verb meaning 'to keep' or 'to preserve', and was adopted when the Welsh historic environment service was established in 1984 following the National Heritage Act — the same year English Heritage was created across the border.

Prior to devolution, responsibility for the historic environment in Wales sat with central government departments. The establishment of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, and its subsequent evolution into the Senedd with expanded legislative powers, gave Wales increasing autonomy over heritage policy. This culminated in the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023, which introduced significant new provisions for the management and protection of listed buildings and scheduled monuments.