The primary responsibility of the owner of any monument of national importance is to conserve it for future generations. However, the cost of conservation can be immense. It is therefore sensible that any owner should consider whether the monument itself can be used to generate income to help finance its conservation. In 1984, English Heritage became responsible for the management of about 400 national monuments. It inherited and continues a policy of charging for admission at its monuments. If charges for admission are made at a publicly owned monument, two potential conflicts have to be reconciled. One is how to conserve the fabric of the monument while seeking to attract more visitors; the second is how to reconcile maximizing income with a responsibility to all members of the community. The issues raised by these conflicting goals are discussed at length.