ABSTRACT
Inventories are essential to the management of heritage to establish the distribution and character of the heritage assets in a region. Inventories can facilitate analysis and comparison of discrete subsets and help to prioritise conservation efforts. They can also preserve a record of places or objects that have been or may be lost in the future. Recording monuments began in the UK and Ireland in the late 19th century and early years of the 20th century, while inventories of architectural heritage, as distinct from pre-1700 monuments, started in the late 20th century in Ireland. However, it was not until the 21st century that maritime cultural heritage received significant attention, with heritage inventories of local piers and quays still remaining largely provisional.
Remarkably, comprehensive inventories of small piers, quays and landing places in the west of Ireland were sponsored by the government in the late 1990s and early 21st century. These were not heritage inventories, but material condition audits by the county engineering departments and, though 20 years old, serve as a significant record of these small structures. Their structure, which differs from conventional heritage inventories, and the survey methods used serve as a useful case study for other locales to consider.
