What is a listed building?
A listed building is a building of 'Special Architectural or Historic Interest'. Until recently, the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport compiled the official List with advice from English Heritage. However, listing is now compiled and managed solely by English Heritage.
In the context of listing, the term 'building' is wide ranging and includes not only buildings such as houses, churches, schools and barns, but also walls, tomb stones, milestones, ice houses, bridges and locks, telephone and post boxes.
Once listed, a building (exterior and interior) has protection under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to ensure that it retains its special importance. In addition, any object or structure fixed to the building is covered by the listing protection and any object or structure within the 'curtilage' of the building before 1st July 1948 is also covered.
There are approximately 500,000 listed buildings currently protected by listing in England and Wales. South Tyneside has approximately 195 entries on the register of Listed Buildings. Some entries consist of a several buildings such as a terrace of house.
