Description

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 16/07/2015

SS 43 SE
9/28

BRAUNTON,
BRAUNTON MARSH,
2 adjoining cattle shelters 400 metres north-east of The Great Sluice

(Formerly listed as 2 adjoining cattle shelters 40 metres north-east of The Great Sluice)

II

2 adjoining cattle shelters on field boundary. Circa 1815-20 and circa mid C19, restored 1984. Shale rubble, mid C19 addition has red brick dressings. Plain tile roofs. 1815 shelter to east has monopitch roof with 2 wide openings on east front. Mid C19 shelter to west built at right angles at rear of original shelter. Gable-ended roof and 2-bay open fronts to north and south with square central piers supporting the roof.
These cattle shelters (locally known as linhays) are 2 of many on Braunton Marsh and served as shelters and probably fodder stores 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.

Reference : A H Slee Trans. Devonshire Assoc. (1969) Vol.100, pp.101-110.
W G Hoskins and H P R Finberg, Devonshire Studies pp.265-271 and p.332.

Listing NGR: SS4798834517

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26454982

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair