Under the Hague Convention of 1954, which is expected to be ratified in this parliamentary cycle, countries are entitled to give a shortlist of cultural sites that are protected by international law from bombardment.

The Government has prepared a provisional list of 45 sites, but believes that the public should decide which buildings and monuments should be protected. Attackers from the 114 countries that have signed up to the convention will be notified of places listed as being “cultural heritage of the greatest importance for humanity” and must avoid them at all costs.

The provisional list includes 14 national museums, such as the National Gallery and Tate, 23 world heritage sites, such as Stonehenge and Hadrian’s Wall, and Britain’s seven legal deposit libraries. It also includes the whole of Bath, which was declared a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1987, and Saltaire, a West Yorkshire model town listed in 2001. Omissions include St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and Nelson’s Column.

Marcus Binney, president of Save Britain’s Heritage and The Times’s architecture correspondent, said that he was amazed that Britain’s 39 cathedrals had not been included. “One wants to protect the masterpieces of architecture, which would include cathedrals and public buildings such as Manchester City Hall and the law courts in the Strand. The Forth Bridge also ought to be on there.”

A larger list of sites will be placed under “general protection”, but the Department for Culture, Media and Sport believes that it would be unrealistic to expect enemies to avoid more than 50 areas.

All buildings afforded “enhanced” status will be awarded badges. Any commanding officer who attacked a badged building would face criminal charges. There has already been one successful prosecution under the convention. Pavle Strugar, a commander in the Yugoslav National Army who attacked the Old Town in Dubrovnik in Croatia during the 1991 siege, was sentenced to eight years for breaching the convention. He was convicted on two counts of “destruction or wilful damage done to . . . historic monuments and works or art and science”. An appeal is being made.

Buildings cannot be protected if they have any military use in times of war or could act as cover for armed forces.

Figures from the arts put forward a range of monuments.

Richard Briers, the actor, nominated the Albert Memorial opposite the Albert Hall because of its “outrageous” pomp. Martin Bell, the broadcaster and former MP, suggested the whole of Oxford, Cambridge and Westminster. “And under present circumstances, Lord’s cricket ground,” he said.

Michael Frayn, the playwright and author, selected the National Theatre “because no one else likes it and I do”.

Loyd Grossman, speaking from Liverpool, nominated the Three Graces. “And as I’m looking out on it, Liverpool Pier head.” Marco Pierre-White, the chef, opted for a more selfish site: “The Criterion in Piccadilly Circus, because I own it.”

SOME OF THE SITES TO BE PROTECTED

Durham Cathedral and Castle; Fountains Abbey, St Mary’s Church and Studley Royal Park; Ironbridge Gorge; Palace of Westminster, St Margaret's Church and Westminster Abbey; the Tower of London; Canterbury Cathedral (with St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church); Castle and Town Walls of Edward I in Gwynedd; Edinburgh Old and New Towns; Maritime Greenwich; Heart of Neolithic Orkney; historic town of St George and related fortifications, Bermuda; Blaenavon industrial landscape; Derwent Valley mills; New Lanark; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Liverpool maritime mercantile city; British Library; Trinity College, Dublin; British Museum; Geffrye Museum; Horniman Museum; Imperial War Museum; Museum of London; Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester; National Maritime Museum; National Museums, Liverpool

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