Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1882
The Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1882 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (as it then was). It was introduced by John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury, recognising the need for a governmental administration on the protection of ancient monuments, and was finally passed after a number of failed attempts on heritage protection acts. The gradual change towards a state-based authority responsible for the safeguarding of the Kingdom's national heritage manifested itself through the appointment of the first Inspector of Ancient Monuments in 1882, General Pitt Rivers.[1]
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg.png.webp) | |
| Long title | An Act for the better protection of Ancient Monuments. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 45 & 46 Vict. c. 73 |
| Introduced by | John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 18 August 1882 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act 1913 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
Development of the legislation
According to Halfin, "Lubbock's Bill came at a time when England was among the last of the European nations to be completely without protective legislation for cultural property. Many of his ideas were borrowed from a long history of royal and aristocratic interest in preservation that was prevalent in Europe during the nineteenth century. In particular, Lubbock was strongly influenced by the Abbé Gregoire, who had so successfully championed the cause of cultural preservation in France."[2]
The first introduction of the bill in 1873 was controversial because it envisioned the government being able to compulsorily purchase monuments on privately owned land if the owner decided to develop the land. By the Act's passage in 1882, these provisions had been removed from the bill.[2]
The schedule
The 1882 Act contains a schedule of the initial 68 sites that were covered by the legislation. These are almost all pre-historic monuments, some of the most famous such sites in the country among them, alongside some that were felt to be at particular risk at the time.
England and Wales
There were 26 English sites listed in the schedule, in just 10 counties, including seven sites in Wiltshire. Welsh monuments were represented by one site in each of north, south and west Wales.[3]
| Site name | 1882 description | Site type | Period | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plas Newydd Burial Chambers | The tumulus and dolmen, Plas Newydd, Llandedwen, Anglesea. | Chambered tomb | Neolithic | 53.2038°N 4.2179°W |
| Wayland's Smithy | The tumulus known as Wayland Smith's Forge, Ashbury, Berkshire. | Long barrow | Neolithic | 51.5672°N 1.5953°W |
| Uffington Castle | Uffington Castle, Uffington, Berkshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 51.5748°N 1.5699°W |
| Long Meg and Her Daughters | The stone circle known as Long Meg and her Daughters, near Penrith, Addingham, Cumberland. | Stone circle | Bronze Age | 54.7279°N 2.6676°W |
| Castlerigg stone circle | The stone circle on Castle Rigg, near Keswick, Crosthwaite, Cumberland. | Stone circle | Late Neolithic | 54.6026°N 3.0975°W |
| Low Longrigg Stone Circles, Boot | The stone circles on Burn Moor, St. Bees, Cumberland. | Five stone circles | Bronze Age | 54.4112°N 3.2757°W |
| Nine Ladies | The stone circle known as The Nine Ladies, Stanton Moor, Bakewell, Derbyshire. | Stone circle | Bronze Age | 53.1681°N 1.6289°W |
| Arbor Low | The tumulus known as Arborlow, Bakewell, Derbyshire. | Henge | Neolithic | 53.1689°N 1.7617°W |
| Hob Hurst's House | Hob Hurst's House and Hut, Baslow Moor. Bakewell, Derbyshire. | Round barrow | Bronze Age | 53.2199°N 1.5701°W |
| Minninglow | Minning Low, Brassington, Derbyshire. | Round barrow | Neolithic | 53.11245°N 1.6888°W |
| Arthur's Stone | Arthur's Quoit, Gower, Llanridian, Glamorganshire. | Chambered tomb | Neolithic | 51.5936°N 4.1794°W |
| Uley Long Barrow | The tumulus at Uley, Gloucestershire. | Long barrow | Neolithic | 51.6986°N 2.3058°W |
| Kit's Coty House | Kits Coty House, Aylesford, Kent. | Long barrow | Neolithic | 51.3199°N 0.5029°E |
| Hunsbury Hill | Danes Camp, Hardingstone, Northamptonshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 52.2189°N 0.9202°W |
| Castle Dykes Enclosure | Castle Dykes, Farthingston, Northamptonshire. | Hillfort enclosure | Iron Age to Roman | 52.2019°N 1.0980°W |
| Rollright Stones | The Rollrich Stones, Little Rollright, Oxfordshire. | Megaliths | Neolithic and Bronze Age | 51.9755°N 1.5708°W |
| Pentre Ifan | The Pentre Evan Cromlech, Nevern, Pembrokeshire. | Chambered tomb | Neolithic | 51.9990°N 4.7700°W |
| Stanton Drew stone circles | The ancient stones at Stanton Drew, Somersetshire. | Two stone circles | Neolithic | 51.3678°N 2.5753°W |
| Stoney Littleton Long Barrow | The chambered tumulus at Stoney Littleton, Wellow, Somersetshire. | Chambered tomb | Neolithic | 51.3133°N 2.3813°W |
| Cadbury Castle | Cadbury Castle, South Cadbury, Somersetshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 51.0241°N 2.5318°W |
| Mayburgh Henge | Mayborough, near Penrith, Barton, Westmoreland. | Henge | Neolithic or Bronze Age | 54.6489°N 2.7465°W |
| King Arthur's Round Table (henge) | Arthur's Round Table, Penrith, Barton, Westmoreland. | Henge | Neolithic | 54.6483°N 2.7403°W |
| Stonehenge | The group of stones known as Stonehenge, Amesbury, Wiltshire. | Henge | Bronze Age | 51.1788°N 1.8262°W |
| Old Sarum | Old Sarum, Wiltshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 51.0925°N 1.8057°W |
| Avebury | The vallum at Abury, the Sarcen stones within the same, those along the Kennet Road, and the group between Abury and Beckhampton, Abury, Wiltshire. | Henge | Neolithic | 51.4286°N 1.8542°W |
| West Kennet Long Barrow | The long barrow at West Kennet, near Marlborough, West Kennet, Wiltshire. | Long barrow | Neolithic | 51.4086°N 1.8511°W |
| Silbury Hill | Silbury Hill, Abury, Wiltshire. | Mound | Neolithic | 51.4156°N 1.8575°W |
| The Devil's Den | The Dolmen (Devil's Den), near Marlborough, Fyfield, Wiltshire. | Chambered tomb | Neolithic | 51.4257°N 1.7826°W |
| Barbury Castle | Barbury Castle, Ogboume, St. Andrews, and Swindon, Wiltshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 51.4853°N 1.7865°W |
Scotland
The 1882 schedule included 21 monuments, the majority of which are prehistoric sites.[3] Two are Neolithic, five Bronze Age, eight Iron Age and six from early Christian/Pictish periods, although two of the prehistoric stones also have notable early Christian additions.[4] Those sites now in the care of Historic Scotland are indicated with '(HS)'.
| Site name | 1882 description | Site type | Period | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inverurie Cemetery, four symbol stones | The Bass of Inverury, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. | Four Pictish Stones | 9th century | 57.2755°N 2.3665°W |
| Tap o' Noth, Rhynie | The vitrified fort on the Hill of Noath, Rhynie, Aberdeenshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 57.3517°N 2.8575°W |
| Newton House, inscribed stone and symbol stone | The pillar and stone at Newton-in-the-Garioch, Culsalmond, Aberdeenshire. | Pictish stones | 9th century | 57.3565°N 2.5634°W |
| Edin's Hall Broch | The circular walled structures called "Edin’s Hall," on Cockburn Law, Dunse, Berwickshire. | Broch (HS) | Iron Age | 55.8354°N 2.3656°W |
| Palisaded Huts Nr Lauder Barns | The British walled settlement enclosing huts at Harefaulds in Lauderdale, Lauder, Berwickshire. | settlement | Iron Age | 55.7071°N 2.7256°W |
| Dun Dornaigil | The Dun of Dornadilla, Durness, Sutherlandshire. | Broch (HS) | Iron Age | 58.3667°N 4.6386°W |
| Sueno's Stone | The sculptured stone called Suenos Stone, near Forres, Rafford, Elgin. | Standing stone | 9th century | 57.6157°N 3.5977°W |
| Drosten Stone | The cross slab, with inscription, in the churchyard of St. Vigeans, St. Vigeans, Forfarshire. | Pictish stone | 9th century | 56.577°N 2.5904°W |
| Caterthun | The British forts, on the hills, called "The Black and White Catherthuns," Menmuir, Forfarshire. | Hillforts (HS) | Iron Age | 56.7842°N 2.7408°W |
| Clava cairns | A group of remains and pillars, on a haugh at Clava on the banks of the Nairn, Croy and Dalcross, Inverness. | Chamber tomb (HS) | Bronze Age | 57.4737°N 4.0743°W |
| Dun Telve and Dun Troddan | The Pictish Towers at Glenelg, Inverness. | Brochs (HS) | Iron Age | 57.1946°N 5.5946°W |
| Drumwhirn Cairn and Boreland cairn? | The Cairns, with chambers and galleries partially dilapidated, Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrightshire. | Chamber tombs | Bronze Age | 54.9899°N 4.4945°W |
| Cat Stane | The Catstane, an inscribed pillar, Kirkliston, Linlithgow. | Inscribed stone | Bronze Age & 5th century | 55.9548°N 3.3645°W |
| Ring of Brodgar | The Ring of Brogar and other stone pillars at Stennis in Orkney, and the neighbouring pillars, Firth and Stennis, Orkney. | Henge (HS) | Neolithic | 59.002°N 3.2287°W |
| Maeshowe | The Chambered mound of Maeshowe, Firth and Stennis, Orkney. | Chambered cairn (HS) | Neolithic | 58.9966°N 3.1882°W |
| Callanish Stones | The stones of Callernish, Uig, Ross. | Stone circles | Bronze Age & 5th century | 58.197°N 6.745°W |
| Broch of Clickimin | The Burgh of Clickanim, Sound, Shetland. | Broch (HS) | Iron Age | 60.1492°N 1.1657°W |
| Broch of Mousa | The Pictish tower at Mousa in Shetland, Dunrossness, Shetland. | Broch (HS) | Iron Age | 59.9956°N 1.1826°W |
| (now in Whithorn Priory Museum?) | The inscribed slab standing on the roadside leading from Wigton to Whithorn and about a mile from Whithorn, Whithorn, Wigtonshire. | Inscribed stone | Early Christian | |
| Laggangairn Standing Stones | Two stones, with incised crosses, on a mound in a field at Laggangairn, New Luce, Wigtonshire. | Standing stones (HS) | Bronze Age & early Christian | 55.0071°N 4.7818°W |
| Kirkmadrine Early Christian Stones | The pillars at Kirkmadrine, Stoneykirk, Wigtonshire. | Inscribed stones (HS) | 6th century | 54.7936°N 4.9881°W |
Ireland
In 1882 the whole of Ireland was under British administration. Subsequent legislation for Ireland used the terminology of historic monuments, which continues in Northern Ireland. Three sites in the schedule are in what became Northern Ireland, one being in County Armagh and two in County Down.[5] The fifteen sites now in the Republic of Ireland are protected by the National Monuments Service[6] and include two world heritage sites. As with England and Wales, the 1882 selection was overwhelmingly those thought to be prehistoric sites, although there is now uncertainty over the age of many sites.
| Site name | 1882 description | Site type | Period | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navan Fort | The earthen enclosure and mounds called the Navan Fort, Eglish, Armagh. | Ceremonial site | Iron Age, Celtic | 54.3453°N 6.7186°W |
| Glencolumbkille Cashel | Stone monuments and groups of sepulchral cists in Glen Maulin, Glencolumbkille, Banagh, Donegal. | 51.5646°N 9.0871°W | ||
| Grianan of Aileach | The earthen and stone inclosure known as Grimm of Aileach, Burt, West Innishowen, Donegal. | 55.0167°N 7.4333°W | ||
| Giant's Ring | The earthen inclosure and Cromlech called the Giant's Ring near Ballylessan, Drumbo, Upper Castlereagh, Down. | 54.5403°N 5.95°W | ||
| Downpatrick Mound of Down? | The earthen fort at Downpatrick (Dunkeltair), Leoale, Down. | 54.3323°N 5.7212°W | ||
| Staigue stone fort | Stone structure called Staigue Fort, Kilcrogham, Dunkerron, Kerry. | Ringfort | Iron Age | 51.8053°N 10.0158°W |
| Greenmount Motte | The earthen mound at Greenmount, Kilsaren, Ardee, Kerry. | Motte over a Souterrain | Anglo-Norman and older | 53.8781°N 6.3856°W |
| Ballina megalithic tomb (Dolmen of the Four Maols) | The stone monument at Ballyna, Kilmoremoy, Tyrawly, Mayo. | Chamber tomb | Bronze Age | 54.1071°N 9.166°W |
| Glebe Stone Circles | Cairns and stone circles at Moytura, Cong, Kilmaine, Mayo. | Stone Circles | 53.5477°N 9.2649°W | |
| Brú na Bóinne (Bend of the Boyne) World heritage site | The tumuli, New Grange, Knowth and Dowth, Monknewton and Dowth, Upper Slane, Meath. | Megalithic complex | Neolithic | 53.6928°N 6.4493°W |
| Hill of Tara | The earthworks on the hill of Tara, Skreen, Meath. | multi-period | 53.5775°N 6.6119°W | |
| Telltown | The earthworks at Teltown (Taltin), Upper Kells, Meath. | Bronze Age | 53.7003°N 6.7665°W | |
| Hill of Ward | The earthworks at Wardstown (Tlaghta), Athboy, Lune, Meath. | Ringfort | Iron Age | 53.624°N 6.886°W |
| Slieve na Calliagh | The two central tumuli on the hills called Slieve Na Calliagh, Loughcrew, Fore, Meath. | Megalithic complex | Neolithic | 53.7445°N 7.1117°W |
| Heapstown Cairn | The Cairn at Heapstown, Kilmacallan, Tirerrill, Sligo. | Passage tomb | 54.0951°N 8.3483°W | |
| Knocknarea passage tombs & Medb's Cairn | Sepulchral remains at Carrowmore. The cairn called Miscaun Mave or Knocknarea, Kilmacowen, Curbury, Sligo. | Passage tomb | Neolithic | 54.2589°N 8.5746°W |
| Drumlohan Souterrain & Ogham Stones | The cave containing Ogham inscribed stones at Drumloghan, Stradbally, Decies-without-Drum, Waterford. | 52.163319°N 7.465368°W | ||
| Hill of Uisneach (Royal sites of Ireland) | The stone monument called the Catstone and the cemetery on the hill of Usnagh, Killare, Rathconrath, Westmeath. | Royal innauguartion site | 53.49°N 7.562°W | |
See also
References
- The Construction of Built Heritage ISBN 0-7546-1846-3
- Tylor, Edward Burnett (1901). . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography (1st supplement). London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- Halfin, Simon (1995). "The Legal Protection of Cultural Property in Britain: Past, Present and Future and Future" (PDF). DePaul Journal of Art, Technology & Intellectual Property Law. 6 (1).
- Hunter, Robert (1907). . The Preservation of Places of Interest or Beauty. Manchester University Press – via Wikisource. (includes the full text of the 1882 Act).
- Historic Scotland: A List of Scheduled Monuments 13-04-10, and a List of Properties in Care, accessed 3 July 2014
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency, The Schedule of Historic Monuments. 31 March 2010 Archived 3 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- National Monuments database at archeology.ie