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Summary

Remains of a single storey, stone-built gable-ended cattle shelter or linhay with an attached pound on the south-east side of Horsey Island; one of several which were built following the reclamation of the island in the mid 19th century. At some time planks were laid across the roof trusses to form a loft. The building is buttressed on the south gable and rear walls due to insufficient foundations and is considered liable to collapse and dangerous.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43SE/238

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Whitley, N., 1861, On the Embanking and Reclaiming of the Marsh-Lands of the Manor of Heanton Punchardon, North Devon, 291-2 (Article in Serial). SDV341163.

Linhays for shade and shelter were built in such places that one linhay, with its yard in front, might be used for 2 fields. These linhays were 12 feet by 30 feet, with 2 openings 6 feet wide for the cattle to enter, and a straw loft over.

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

Building depicted on first edition Ordnance Survey map.

Turpin, J. W., 1982, Braunton Great Field and Marshes, 7 (Report - non-specific). SDV341027.

Following the reclamation of Horsey Island in 1857, it was divided into fields and a number of linhays were built to provide shade, shelter and storage.

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

Linhay 5. 4 metres high by 10.3 metres wide by 11.1 metres long. Has 2 doorways, 2.2 metres wide with wooden lintels, and a square pound. Ruin.
The annotated drawing shows a single storey, stone-built gable-ended building with buttresses against the south gable and rear walls. At some time planks have been laid across the roof trusses to form a loft. There are no slates on the roof; these could have been removed for use on another linhay. The building has two wide doorways at the front; each originally had a wooden lintel but that from the south end has gone and the ends of the trusses are hanging free. In front of the linhay is the remains of the walled pound.
The building was erected on 'made' ground and insufficient attention was given to the foundations, hence the buttresses. The building is considered dangerous and liable to collapse.

Dennis, A. J., 1983, Linhay 5 (Ground Photograph). SDV357327.

Interior and exterior photos of linhay. The exterior photo shows the buttressed gable end of the building with the sloping wall of the pound. The interior photo shows the roof structure, from which the slates have been removed, to have partially collapsed.

Manning, C., 2007, Braunton Marsh Management Study 2007, 8, 23, 28 (Report - non-specific). SDV341104.

The Marsh linhays are intrinsically associated with the traditional cattle farming of the area, and several were built following the enclosure of Horsey Island. 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 (WA87) (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, Survey No. 1327 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

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

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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