Editing Cadw (section)

==Aims and objectives==

As the Welsh Government's historic environment service, {{Lang|cy|Cadw|italic=no}} is charged with protecting the historic environment of Wales, and making it accessible to members of the public. To this end, in 2010–11 it identified four aspects of its work: it would take measures to conserve the heritage of Wales, its ancient buildings, and monuments; it would aim to sustain the distinctive characters of the different landscapes and urban areas; it would try to help people understand and care about their country, their locality, its history, and Wales' place in the world; and it would aim to improve the wellbeing of people in Wales.<ref name=report2012>[http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/docs/cadw/publications/The%20Welsh%20Historic%20Environment%20Position%20Statement%202010-11_EN.pdf Cadw Historic Environment Position Satatement 2010–11] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223838/http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/docs/cadw/publications/The%20Welsh%20Historic%20Environment%20Position%20Statement%202010-11_EN.pdf |date=4 October 2013 }}. Retrieved 1 October 2013</ref>

===Conservation and protection=== 
{{Lang|cy|Cadw|italic=no}} is responsible for the care and upkeep of four [[World Heritage Site]]s in Wales: the [[Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd]], the [[Pontcysyllte Aqueduct]], the [[Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales]], and the [[Blaenavon Industrial Landscape]].

Many of these listed sites are in private ownership, but {{Lang|cy|Cadw|italic=no}} has a specific responsibility (as of 2022) for the care and upkeep of the 130 historic sites that are in state ownership, employing staff at 28 sites.<ref name="BBC open doors">{{cite news|author=Gilbert John |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62729887 |title=Cadw: Wales heritage festival launched with special access locations |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=30 August 2022 |access-date=12 November 2023 }}</ref> Many of Wales' great [[castle]]s and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined [[abbey]]s, are protected and maintained in this way, as well being opened to the public. {{Lang|cy|Cadw|italic=no}} has been appointed by the [[Welsh Government]] and is the successor body in Wales to the [[Ministry of Works (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Works]].<ref name=Introduction>[http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/docs/cadw/publications/IntroducingCadw_EN.pdf Introducing Cadw] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529215202/http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/docs/cadw/publications/IntroducingCadw_EN.pdf |date=29 May 2014 }}, Cadw. Retrieved 31 August 2013</ref>

Cadw also identifies (and develops the criteria for identification) of historical assets in Wales. In 2011 there were 29,936 [[listed building]]s in Wales; of these, 493 were the most important Grade I listed buildings, 2,124 were Grade II* and 27,319 were Grade II listed. Most of these were in private ownership. Also in Wales were 4,175 [[Scheduled Monuments in Wales|Scheduled Monuments]], 6 [[List of designations under the Protection of Wrecks Act|Designated historic wrecks]], and 523 [[Conservation Area (United Kingdom)|Conservation Areas]]; these designations means that the buildings or objects concerned are protected by statute. A register of significant Welsh battlefield sites is also under preparation.<ref name=report2012/>

Cadw also provides support to other organisations with responsibility for understanding, conserving and interpreting the archaeology and cultural heritage of Wales. These include the [[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales]] which functions as an [[archive]] (around 90% of its funding comes from Welsh Government), and the [[Welsh Archaeological Trusts]] which are active in research, [[Historic site|heritage]] management and supporting sustainable development across [[Wales]] (only 50% of their funding is from Cadw).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Belford|first=Paul|date=2018-03-28|title=Politics and Heritage: Developments in Historic Environment Policy and Practice in Wales|url=https://www.academia.edu/39112419|journal=The Historic Environment: Policy and Practice|volume=9|issue=2|pages=102–127 |doi=10.1080/17567505.2018.1456721|s2cid=158120341 }}</ref>

===Area character studies===

There are 58 [[Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales|Historic Landscapes]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/historiclandscape/AllSearchHtmlLineReport?lang=&assetTypeId=5&unitaryAuthorityId=null&communityId=null&referenceNumber=&name=&broadClass=null&siteType=null&siteTypeAsText=null&period=null&hasInterimProtection=false&broadClassId=null&broadClassName=null&siteTypeId=null&siteTypeName=null&periodId=null&periodName=null&pageNumber=0&pageSize=50|title=Line Reports of Registered Historic Landscape |publisher=Cadw |access-date=29 March 2023}}</ref> and 384 [[Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales|Historic parks and gardens]] in Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/parkgarden/AllSearchHtmlLineReport?lang=&assetTypeId=2&unitaryAuthorityId=null&communityId=null&referenceNumber=&name=&broadClass=null&siteType=null&siteTypeAsText=null&period=null&hasInterimProtection=false&broadClassId=null&broadClassName=null&siteTypeId=null&siteTypeName=null&periodId=null&periodName=null&pageNumber=0&pageSize=50|title=Line Reports of Historic Park & Garden |publisher=Cadw |access-date=29 March 2023}}</ref> Cadw is also undertaking urban character studies of urban areas. Eight had been completed by September 2013.<ref>[http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/historicenvironment/regenerationandsustainability/understandingcharacter/?lang=en Understanding Character], Cadw. Retrieved 31 August 2013</ref> Combined with a register of buildings and ancient monuments at risk these aim to enable management decision making and grant allocation to strengthen the character of different areas.<ref name=report2012/>

===Care and operation===
{{main|List of Cadw properties}}
[[File:Mynydd Felfed (Coed Hyrddyn) - Velvet Hill, Llantysilio, Llangollen, Sir Ddinbych, Cymru (Wales) 70.jpg|thumb|[[Valle Crucis Abbey]] ruins, a historic abbey in Cadw's care]]
[[File:Pentre Ifan -neolithic dolmen -Wales-1June2009.jpg|thumb|[[Pentre Ifan]], a Neolithic dolmen in Pembrokeshire]]

Cadw operates most of the heritage sites in its care and opens them to the public. In 2010–11 there were an estimated two million visits to Cadw properties. In some cases, these are major tourist attractions and offer tours of the monuments, exhibitions and display panels. Cadw also produces books and guidebooks on many of their properties. Many of the sites are unstaffed, free to access and have interpretation boards to explain their significance.<ref name=Introduction/> Alongside this, a mobile app was released in 2016, which provides basic information for visitors as well as an interpretative aspect for larger sites.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.11141/ia.44.15 | issue=44 | title=Review of Cadw Mobile App [application] | year=2017 | journal=Internet Archaeology | last1 = Rothenberg | first1 = Miriam | doi-access=free }}</ref>

The five most frequently visited properties in 2010–11 were [[Caernarfon Castle]] (192,695 visits), [[Conwy Castle]] (190,031 visits), [[Caerphilly Castle]] (94,707 visits), [[Harlech Castle]] (93,242 visits) and [[Beaumaris Castle]] (80,660 visits).<ref name=report2012/>

To provide a better context for the history of Wales, in 2010–11 Cadw was developing thematic 'All Wales Interpretation Plans', that could develop themes across numerous sites and localities. There were eight themes:-
* Origins and prehistory.
* Roman invasion and settlement.
* Celtic saints and pilgrimage.
* Churches, chapels and monastic landscapes.
* Castles and Princes of Medieval Wales.
* Artistic responses to the landscape.
* The Defence of the Realm – Pembrokeshire.
* Wales – the first industrial nation.<ref name=report2012/>