See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Single storey stone building with two arched doorways at the front. One of several cattle shelters or linhays built on Horsey Island following its enclosure in the 19th century.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43SE/241

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.

Open-fronted building depicted with two small yards or pounds in front.

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 8. 4 metres high by 4.7 metres wide by 10 metres long. Has 2 arched doorways, 2 metres wide. Condition quite good. Annotated survey drawing shows a single storey gable-ended stone building with two large doorways at the front with dressed stone arches. Blue engineering bricks are used in places to form quoins. The roof is covered with blue slates with red clay ridge tiles. Some of the slates, however, are now missing due to storm damage. There is now no pound attached and a modern post rail and wire fence extends from the front centre of the building. The linhay is still in regular use.

Dennis, A. J., 1983, Linhay 8 (Ground Photograph). SDV357444.

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 (WA90) (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. 1330 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

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

Outline of building shown on modern mapping.

University of Southampton, 2018, North Devon Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment, 33 (Interpretation). SDV361978.

Single storey stone building with two arched doorways at the front. One of several cattle shelters or linhays built on Horsey Island following its enclosure in the 19th century.

Recent aerial images suggest structure is in ruinous state with only one wall standing and no roof. (CCO AP 2006, 2009, 2013).

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

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.