Links
Other Organisations
Links to other organisations DOWH works with and other useful sources of information.
The Archaeology Data Service (ADS)
The ADS is a huge freely available database that includes project collections, reports, publications and metadata covering Wales and England.
British Association for Local History
BALH is the leading national organisation devoted to supporting local history and historians and creating links between amateur and professional historians. It charges an annual membership subscription.
Promotes the study of all aspects of the archaeology and history of brick making and brickwork. Its website has stacks of useful information.
Cadw is the Welsh Government's historic environment service with an impressive collection of monuments open to the public. If promotes the historic environment generally and provides a great deal of useful information for owners and visitors alike.
Maintained by RCAHMW, Coflein is the extensive online catalogue of archaeology, buildings, industrial and maritime heritage in Wales, much of it freely accessible to the public.
Council for British Archeology
The CBA is the leading educational charity dedicated to championing and promoting engagement in archaeology and supporting grassroots archaeologists across the UK.
The Council for British Archaeology - Wales
A group of CBA devoted to Wales.
Friends of Friendless Churches
FoFC is an independent, non-denominational charity devoted to saving redundant (closed) historic churches of outstanding interest and making them open to the public. It is particularly strong in Wales.
The Georgian Group is a national amenity society devoted to saving Georgian buildings (including traditional buildings), parks and gardens and stimulating wider appreciation of them.
In 2024, Heneb united the four Welsh regional archaeological trusts - Clwyd-Powys, Dyfed, Glamorgan-Gwent, and Gwynedd - into a single organisation dedicated to uncovering and preserving Wales’ rich archaeological heritage through research, archaeology and outreach.
A national amenity society that champions historic buildings and places of all ages in Wales and England. It does a lot of casework in Wales and has an active educational programme. It used to be called the Ancient Monuments Society.
Formerly the Royal Commission, from 2015 Historic England has been the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment, championing historic places and helping people to understand, value and care for them. Historic England maintains the National Heritage List for England is the only official, up to date register of all nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England.
Formerly the Royal Commission, from 2015 Historic Environment Scotland has been the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment, championing historic places and helping people to understand, value and care for them. Historic Environment Scotland maintains the National Heritage List for Scotland.
The Historic Farm Buildings Group is a voluntary organisation for those interested in the historic and traditional farm buildings of Britain and encourages creative conservation and beneficial re-use.
Historic Houses is a not-for-profit organisation that represents well over a thousand independently owned historic house owners and has an active open house programme for its members, often providing the only opportunity of seeing these buildings. Membership by subscription.
Institute for the Study of Welsh Estates
ISWE is a national research centre which exists to enhance understanding of the role of estates and country houses in the histories, cultures and landscapes of Wales, based at Bangor University and a long-term partner of DOWH.
A major membership-based charity devoted to securing access and protection to outstanding landscape and monuments in Britain with extensive estates in Wales.
The Regional Furniture Society studies the rich diversity of British regional furniture-making traditions, and the social and cultural context of furniture from the earliest times to the present day.
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
The RCAHMW has a leading national role in developing and promoting understanding of the archaeological, built and maritime heritage of Wales. The Royal Commission is a long-standing partner of DOWH.
Scottish Vernacular Buildings Working Group
The sister organisation to VAG for Scotland, the Working Group has a very useful website.
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
A national amenity society concerned with the protection and renewal of old buildings of all dates. It is particularly strong on traditional buildings and the promotion of craft traditions. It produces first-class advice and guidelines on good conservation practice.
Active in Wales for many years, SPAB Cymru produces first-class advice and guidelines on good conservation practice.
St Fagans National Museum of History
One of the national museums of Wales, St Fagans contains an outstanding collection of traditional and other historic buildings moved from all over Wales to a site near Cardiff.
Originally the trade association for manufacturing of tradition stone roofing products, its website has much useful guidance on stone roofing generally, including some detailed information of the Welsh slate industry.
The Vernacular Architecture Group
The major UK group devoted to the study of traditional buildings. Its website contains a wealth of useful guidance, bibliographies, databases and other on-line resources. The VAG has a large number of affiliated societies - of which DOWH is one - and they are listed with their addresses on the VAG website.
Discovering Old Welsh Houses volunteers also offer Help & Guidance to our members researching houses in North Wales.