THERE are more than half a million listed buildings in England and Wales, according to Strutt & Parker.

That is to say, half a million buildings which have been deemed to be of special architectural or historical interest. They include industrial mills, pubs, dockyards and even police lock-ups, but of course many are private houses.

English Heritage - the Government agency which oversees listing - assumes though that if you have bought a listed building, you are happy to take on the responsibilities that go with it - and of course, the majority of owners are happy.

There is also undoubtedly a certain cachet to owning a listed building. These houses don’t necessarily sell for higher prices because they are listed, but it is indicative of the fact that each one is an important part of this country’s heritage.

Fifty percent of the houses sold by Simon Backhouse of Strutt & Parker are listed properties.

He said: “Being listed undoubtedly improves the saleability of a house; it's rarely anything other than a distinct benefit.”

The notion of legal protection for buildings of particular architectural or historical importance first appeared in law in 1932, with the Town And Country Planning Act.

Since then, three specific areas of listing have been defined. Grade I is defined as being of exceptional interest and only makes up about two per cent of all listed buildings. Grade II* indicates the building is both particularly important and of special interest, while Grade II buildings merely warrant the description of special interest - and the law states that every effort should be made to preserve them.

This last category makes up 94 per cent of the total number, and whereas grants can be obtained for urgent major repairs for Grades I and II*, it is highly unlikely that financial assistance can be gained for Grade II buildings.

English Heritage insists that listing is not meant to fossilise a building, but to protect its structure and ensure that careful thought is given to any alterations. For details of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act of 1990, contact The Department of Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW I Y 5 SD.