Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a ''nationally important'' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change. The protection given to scheduled monuments is separate from the Town and Country Planning system. Scheduled Monuments are defined in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. In England, Wales and Scotland they are often referred to as a scheduled ancient monument - although the Act defines only ancient monument and scheduled monument. In Northern Ireland they are designated under separate legislation and are referred to as a scheduled historic monument or a monument in state care.