About the AMS

The Ancient Monuments Society was founded in 1924 ''for the study and conservation of ancient monuments, historic buildings and fine old craftsmanship'. We are committed not only to campaigning for historic and beautiful buildings, but to furthering the study of them.

Consultee on Listed Building Consent

We are recognised as one of the National Amenity Societies, and as such are informed of any application for listed building consent in England and Wales involving demolition. However we are unique amongst the Amenity Societies in that buildings of all ages fall within our remit. 'Ancient Monument' is a notoriously ambiguous term, but we take it to mean any man-made structure of architectural or historical interest - including houses, whether vernacular or polite, barns, almshouses, dovecotes, mills, churches and chapels. We are also the slimmest of all the Amenity Societies, and rely on members, donations and bequests to continue our work.

Partnership with the Friends of Friendless Churches

The AMS has always been especially concerned with the preservation of redundant churches. In 1980 we entered into a partnership with the Friends of Friendless Churches, an organisation with direct responsibility for thirty seven churches which would otherwise have been demolished, fallen into decay, or been unsympathetically converted. While both organisations retain their independence they co-operate in handling ecclesiastical cases.

Membership and Publications

The Ancient Monuments Society also operate a joint membership scheme with the Friends of Friendless Churches, publishing three Newsletters and a volume of Transactions each year.

Each Newsletter runs to over 60 pages and includes a selection of casework from the preceding months, along with book reviews, a comprehensive guide to lectures, exhibitions and courses, plus of course the unmissable 'Gleanings; a miscellany of information, instructive and diverting'. Many members find them invaluable.

The 150 page bound volume of AMS Transactions gives an in-depth analysis of the years casework, in addition to ten or so scholarly articles on subjects as diverse as: early Meeting Houses, Victorian cemeteries and the church towers of Somerset. Each Volume also describes the recent work of the Friends of Friendless Churches.

To receive the publications and support out work please consider joining us, or e-mail us (or write to us, at the address below) with your name and address and we can send you some literature about our work. Our publications are also available to order from here.

Organisation and People

Both the AMS and the Friends are run from our office at St Ann's Vestry Hall in the City of London. The AMS operate with a very small staff, reporting to the Society's Council on a quarterly basis.

Our Chairman is Giles Quarme, a leading conservation architect. Matthew Saunders is the Secretary of the Society, also the Hon. Director of The Friends and a Trustee of the Heritage Lottery Fund. The joint membership scheme is run by the Assistant Secretary, Caroline Carr (nee Welch), who is also Assistant Director of the Friends and who undertakes one day a week on casework. Our Chairman and Council all serve on an honorary basis.

The Society's Casework Advisor is Frank Kelsall, co-founder of the Architectural History Practice, Chairman of the London Society, President of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain and a former English Heritage Inspector.

Our Trustees are: J B Blayney ARIBA FLI Dip Arch; Grahame Bond MA;
Charlotte Bradbeer BA; Jill Channer MA FSA FRSA IHBC; Judith Cligman MA IHBC; Leslie Du Cane BSc ACA; Brian Field ARIBA; Kathleen Fishwick MBE ATD Dip Con Studies (York); Edward Impey MA DPhil AIFA; George Law BA FRSA
Richard Keith Morris BA PhD FSA; Anthony Peers MA; Richard Pollard MA;
Giles Quarme RIBA FRSA BAHons Dip Arch Dip Cons AA; Anthony Rossi KSG Dip Arch Dip Con Studies (York) RIBA; Carole Ryan BSc MA MIFA MRICS IHBC
Christopher F Stell OBE MA BArch ARIBA FS; Anthony W Swaine FRIBA FSA
Philip Thomas B.Mus.Dip.Th.St.

We also rely on the eyes and ears of our members to help us to save beautiful and interesting buildings from destruction and decay. Further details of how to volunteer your support are given on our Casework page.