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Summary

A single storey, gable-ended stone-built cattle shelter or linhay on the eastern side of Horsey Island; one of several built following the reclamation of Horsey Island in the mid 19th century. The building has two arched doorways and a stone-walled pound in front.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS43SE/236

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.

Linhay and pound depicted.

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 3. 4.1 metres high by 4.7 metres wide by 10.2 metres long. Has 2 arched doorways, 2 metres wide, and a square pound. In quite good condition.
Annotated drawing shows a single storey, stone-built, gable-ended building orientated broadly north-south. It has two wide doorways at the front with arched brick lintels. At some time planks have been placed over the the roof principals to form a hay loft. There is a blocked opening to the loft space in the north gable. The roof, which is in poor condition is of slate with clay ridge tiles. In front of the building is a rectangular stone-walled pound with opposing entrances in the north and south sides. Only the base of the original wall survives in the south-west corner and part of the north wall has been rebuilt in concrete block.

Dennis, A. J., 1983, Linhay 3 (Ground Photograph). SDV357325.

Photo shows a single storey, stone-built, gable-ended building with two wide doorways at the front with arched brick lintels. It has a slated roof which is in poor condition. Part of the north wall of the pound has been rebuilt in concrete block; the north-east corner has bull-nosed brick quoins.

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 (WA85) (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. 1326 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

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

Linhay and pound depicted.

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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