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Hut circle and small enclosure 270m north west of The Old Lighthouse, Lundy

A Scheduled Monument in Area not comprised in any Parish-Lundy Island, Devon

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.1693 / 51°10'9"N

Longitude: -4.6755 / 4°40'31"W

OS Eastings: 213047.496007

OS Northings: 144519.62446

OS Grid: SS130445

Mapcode National: GBR GTTL.R2J

Mapcode Global: VH2S3.XW30

Entry Name: Hut circle and small enclosure 270m north west of The Old Lighthouse, Lundy

Scheduled Date: 10 June 1998

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1016014

English Heritage Legacy ID: 27633

County: Devon

Civil Parish: Area not comprised in any Parish-Lundy Island

Traditional County: Devon

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Devon

Church of England Parish: Lundy

Church of England Diocese: Exeter

Details

The monument includes a hut circle with a small attached enclosure on the west
side of Ackland's Moor, 270m north west of The Old Lighthouse and 30m from the
cliff edge. A natural spring is located 30m to the north.
The hut circle survives as a ring of boulders defining a circular internal
area and measuring 6m in diameter. It is partly enclosed by the stone remains
of a sub-rectangular enclosure to the south which is 17m by 10m and oriented
north-south. On its east side there is a line of stones which may be the
vestiges of a further annexe opening to the south.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Lundy is a small, steep sided island in the Bristol Channel, 16m north of
Hartland Point, north Devon. Aligned north-south, it is 6km long by 1km wide
and supports a predominately moorland vegetation. The 100m high cliffs and
tabular form give it a striking appearance, visible in clear weather from
parts of south west England and south Wales.
Lundy's remoteness and (until the 19th century construction of the Beach Road)
its inaccessibility, combined with a lack of shelter and cultivable soils, has
meant that it has escaped more recent occupation or development. It therefore
preserves a remarkable variety of archaeological sites from early prehistory
(c.8000 BC) onwards, representing evidence for habitation, fortification,
farming and industry. There are also archaeological remains in the waters
surrounding the island - over 150 shipwrecks are already recorded. Most of the
island's archaeology is well documented from detailed survey in the 1980s and
1990s.

Stone hut circles and hut circle settlements were the dwelling places of
prehistoric farmers. Most date from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). The stone-
based round-houses consist of low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor
area; the remains of the turf, thatch or heather roofs are not preserved. The
huts may occur singly of in small or large groups and may lie in the open or
be enclosed by a bank of earth or stone. Frequently traces of their associated
field systems may be found immediately around them. These may be indicated by
areas of clearance cairns and/or the remains of field walls and other
enclosures. The longevity of use of hut circle settlements and their
relationship with other monument types provides important information on the
diversity of social organisation and farming practices amongst prehistoric
communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a
substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of
protection.
The hut circle and associated enclosure on Ackland's Moor, 270m north west of
The Old Lighthouse, survive well and will contain important information about
their construction and use. Foundation stones of the hut are visible in the
turf and the interior does not appear to have been explored in the recent
past. The ground beneath and around the monument will yield information about
the environmental conditions prevalent at the time of its construction and
use.

Source: Historic England

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