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Summary

Stone built cattle shelter or linhay with a stone-walled pound in front. One of several built in the second half of the 19th century following reclamation of the marshes.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1107115: CATTLE SHELTER AND FOLD YARD WALLS 630 METRES NORTH EAST OF THE GREAT SLUICE

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43SE/48
• Old Listed Building Ref (II): 98293

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• LINHAY (Built, XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

Building depicted, in north-east corner of field (501) close to Innermarsh Pill.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Building depicted with attached yard or pound.

Turpin, J. W., 1982, Braunton Great Field and Marshes, 8 (Report - non-specific). SDV341027.

Erected following reclamation of the marshes, linhays provided shelter for stock, and contribute to the character of the area.

Timms, S. C., 1982, Braunton Marsh Linhays (Personal Comment). SDV341134.

One of a number of agricultural buildings erected in fields on Braunton Marsh which was reclaimed in 1811-15. Shown on the Braunton parish tithe map circa 1840.

Dennis, A. J., 1983, Braunton Marshes Linhay Survey (Archive - Survey). SDV341136.

Linhay 9. 4.1 metres high by 8.5 metres wide by 9.2 metres long. Doorways 0.8 metres wide, 1 arched and 1 flat. In quite good condition. Annotated survey drawing shows a single storey gable ended stone building orientated north-south. It has two doorways at the front with bullnose brick quoins; the northern entrance has a low arched lintel, the other extends to the eaves. Slated roof with red clay ridge tiles. In front of the linhay is a stone-walled pound with an entrance in the north side.

Dennis, A. J., 1983, Linhay 9 (Ground Photograph). SDV357329.

Photo showing single storey gable-ended building under a slate roof with two doorways at the front and a stone-walled pound with upright coping stones.

Department of Environment, 1985, Braunton, 18 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV73918.

Manning, C., 2007, Braunton Marsh Management Study 2007, 8, 23 (Report - non-specific). SDV341104.

The Marsh linhays are intrinsically associated with the traditional cattle farming of the area, and their construction is believed to have started almost immediately after the initial enclosure was completed. Almost all linhays appear to have been built by the time of the 1842 tithe map of Braunton Parish. Linhays are 2 storey, open-sided cattle shelters, with a talet which was used to store feed. This study has produced a photographic inventory of the current condition of the Marsh linhays, together with any known sites of linhays which have now been lost forever.

Wessex Archaeology, 2007, RMB Chivenor Flood Defence Scheme Barnstaple, Devon: Archaeological Desk-based Assessment, 10 (WA30) (Report - Assessment). SDV342125.

Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J., 2007, The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report, No. 778 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

Ordnance Survey, 2014, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV355681.

English Heritage, 2014, National Heritage List for England (National Heritage List for England). SDV355683.

Cattle shelter and fold yard walls, 62 metres north-east of the great sluice. Circa mid C19. Stone rubble with brick dressings and slate roof with gabled ends. East front has 2 wide openings, one with segmental red brick arch, the other with wooden lintel. Small rectangular fold yard in front with stone rubble walls and gateway on north side with blue engineering brick piers. This cattle shelter (locally known as linhays) is one of many on Braunton Marsh and served as a shelter and probably a fodder store for cattle on the marsh. Braunton Marsh was probably reclaimed in the Middle Ages from tidal waters of the River Taw, but from 1811-15 the marsh was more extensively drained after authorization by Act of Parliament (1811) as a result of the endeavours of the Lords of the Manors of Braunton Gorges, Braunton Abbotts, Braunton Arundel and Saunton and others who had grazing rights on the marshes. They sought to enclose Braunton Marsh which was regularly flooded by tidal water. 949 acres were reclaimed. John Pascoe was the surveyor and James Green (County Surveyor) the engineer. The adjacent Horsey Island to the south east was reclaimed between 1852-1857. Historically these late enclosures are particularly interesting in Braunton where the Great Field immediately north of the marsh is one of only 3 open field systems to survive in England. Although today (1984) there are only 5 farmers on the Great Field their holdings are still widely dispersed over the field as they were in the Middle Ages when there were about 100 farmers.

Historic England, 2015, National Heritage List for England (National Heritage List for England). SDV358087.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 16/07/2015.
Cattle Shelter and Fold Yard walls 630 metres north-east of The Great Sluice. Formerly listed as Cattle Shelter and Fold Yard walls 62 metres north-east of The Great Sluice.

University of Southampton, 2018, North Devon Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV361978.

Stone built cattle shelter or linhay with a stone-walled pound in front. One of several built in the second half of the 19th century following reclamation of the marshes.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4490 - RMB Chivenor Flood Defence Scheme Barnstaple, Devon: Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
• EDV6573 - Braunton Marshes Linhay Survey

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