The Civic Society's committee first discussed proposals for an award scheme in January 1970 and subsequently agreed that up to three awards should be made each year. Another year passed before the first commendations were reported at the Society's AGM in March 1972. The awards sub-committee was re-convened in January 1975 and a full two page spread, featuring some of the ten nominations received that year, appeared in "The Mercury" on 21st November. Three commendations and the first two awards were reported at the Society's AGM in February 1977.

Details of the 17 main Awards and 35 Commendations that have been made since 1971 are given in the links below.