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. 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.

The schedule

The 1882 Act contains a schedule of the initial 68 sites that were covered by the legislation. This schedule exclusively focussed on pre-historic monuments, and covered some of the most famous such sites in the country, 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.
Site Name1882 DescriptionSite typePeriodLocation
Plas Newydd Burial ChambersThe tumulus and dolmen, Plas Newydd, Llandedwen, Anglesea.Chambered tombNeolithic
Wayland's SmithyThe tumulus known as Wayland Smith's Forge, Ashbury, Berkshire.Long barrowNeolithic
Uffington CastleUffington Castle, Uffington, Berkshire.HillfortIron Age
Long Meg and Her DaughtersThe stone circle known as Long Meg and her Daughters, near Penrith, Addingham, Cumberland.Stone circleBronze Age
Castlerigg stone circleThe stone circle on Castle Rigg, near Keswick, Crosthwaite, Cumberland.Stone circleLate Neolithic
Low Longrigg Stone Circles, Boot?The stone circles on Burn Moor, St. Bees, Cumberland.5 Stone circlesBronze Age
Nine LadiesThe stone circle known as The Nine Ladies, Stanton Moor, Bakewell, Derbyshire.Stone circleBronze Age
Arbor LowThe tumulus known as Arborlow, Bakewell, Derbyshire.HengeNeolithic
Hob Hurst's HouseHob Hurst's House and Hut, Baslow Moor. Bakewell, Derbyshire.Round barrowBronze Age
MinninglowMinning Low, Brassington, Derbyshire.Round barrowNeolithic
Arthur's StoneArthur's Quoit, Gower, Llanridian, Glamorganshire.Chambered tombNeolithic
Uley Long BarrowThe tumulus at Uley, Gloucestershire.Long barrowNeolithic
Kit's Coty HouseKits Coty House, Aylesford, Kent.Long barrowNeolithic
Hunsbury HillDanes Camp, Hardingstone, Northamptonshire.HillfortIron Age
Castle Dykes EnclosureCastle Dykes, Farthingston, Northamptonshire.Hillfort enclosureIron Age to Roman
Rollright StonesThe Rollrich Stones, Little Rollright, Oxfordshire.MegalithsNeolithic and Bronze Age
Pentre IfanThe Pentre Evan Cromlech, Nevern, Pembrokeshire.Chambered tombNeolithic
Stanton Drew stone circlesThe ancient stones at Stanton Drew, Somersetshire.'2 Stone circlesNeolithic
Stoney Littleton Long BarrowThe chambered tumulus at Stoney Littleton, Wellow, Somersetshire.Chambered tombNeolithic
Cadbury CastleCadbury Castle, South Cadbury, Somersetshire.HillfortIron Age
Mayburgh HengeMayborough, near Penrith, Barton, Westmoreland.HengeNeolithic or Bronze Age
King Arthur's Round Table Arthur's Round Table, Penrith, Barton, Westmoreland.HengeNeolithic
StonehengeThe group of stones known as Stonehenge, Amesbury, Wiltshire.HengeBronze Age
Old SarumOld Sarum, Wiltshire.HillfortIron Age
AveburyThe vallum at Abury, the Sarcen stones within the same, those along the Kennet Road, and the group between Abury and Beckhampton, Abury, Wiltshire.HengeNeolithic
West Kennet Long BarrowThe long barrow at West Kennet, near Marlborough, West Kennet, Wiltshire.Long barrowNeolithic
Silbury HillSilbury Hill, Abury, Wiltshire.MoundNeolithic
The Devil's DenThe Dolmen, near Marlborough, Fyfield, Wiltshire.Chambered tombNeolithic
Barbury CastleBarbury Castle, Ogboume, St. Andrews, and Swindon, Wiltshire.HillfortIron Age

Scotland

The 1882 Schedule included 21 monuments, the majority of which are prehistoric sites. 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. Those sites now in the care of Historic Scotland are indicated with ''.
Site Name1882 DescriptionSite typePeriodLocation
Inverurie Cemetery, four symbol stonesThe Bass of Inverury, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.Four Pictish Stones9th century
Tap o' Noth, RhynieThe vitrified fort on the Hill of Noath, Rhynie, Aberdeenshire.HillfortIron Age
Newton House, inscribed stone and symbol stoneThe pillar and stone at Newton-in-the-Garioch, Culsalmond, Aberdeenshire.Pictish stones9th century
Edin's Hall BrochThe circular walled structures called "Edin’s Hall," on Cockburn Law, Dunse, Berwickshire.Broch Iron Age
Palisaded Huts Nr Lauder BarnsThe British walled settlement enclosing huts at Harefaulds in Lauderdale, Lauder, Berwickshire.settlementIron Age
Dun DornaigilThe Dun of Dornadilla, Durness, Sutherlandshire.Broch Iron Age
Sueno's StoneThe sculptured stone called Suenos Stone, near Forres, Rafford, Elgin.Standing stone9th century
Drosten StoneThe cross slab, with inscription, in the churchyard of St. Vigeans, St. Vigeans, Forfarshire.Pictish stone9th century
CaterthunThe British forts, on the hills, called "The Black and White Catherthuns," Menmuir, Forfarshire.Hillforts Iron Age
Clava cairnsA group of remains and pillars, on a haugh at Clava on the banks of the Nairn, Croy and Dalcross, Inverness.Chamber tomb Bronze Age
Dun Telve and Dun TroddanThe Pictish Towers at Glenelg, Inverness.Brochs Iron Age
Drumwhirn Cairn and Boreland cairn?The Cairns, with chambers and galleries partially dilapidated, Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrightshire.Chamber tombsBronze Age
Cat StaneThe Catstane, an inscribed pillar, Kirkliston, Linlithgow.Inscribed stoneBronze Age & 5th century
Ring of BrodgarThe Ring of Brogar and other stone pillars at Stennis in Orkney, and the neighbouring pillars, Firth and Stennis, Orkney.Henge Neolithic
MaeshoweThe Chambered mound of Maeshowe, Firth and Stennis, Orkney.Chambered cairn Neolithic
Callanish StonesThe stones of Callernish, Uig, Ross.Stone circlesBronze Age & 5th century
Broch of ClickiminThe Burgh of Clickanim, Sound, Shetland.Broch Iron Age
Broch of MousaThe Pictish tower at Mousa in Shetland, Dunrossness, Shetland.Broch Iron Age
The inscribed slab standing on the roadside leading from Wigton to Whithorn and about a mile from Whithorn, Whithorn, Wigtonshire.Inscribed stoneEarly Christian
Laggangairn Standing StonesTwo stones, with incised crosses, on a mound in a field at Laggangairn, New Luce, Wigtonshire.Standing stones Bronze Age & early Christian
Kirkmadrine Early Christian StonesThe pillars at Kirkmadrine, Stoneykirk, Wigtonshire.Inscribed stones 6th century

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. The fifteen sites now in the Republic of Ireland are protected by the National Monuments Service 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 Name1882 DescriptionSite typePeriodLocation
Navan FortThe earthen enclosure and mounds called the Navan Fort, Eglish, Armagh.Ceremonial siteIron Age, Celtic
Glencolumbkille CashelStone monuments and groups of sepulchral cists in Glen Maulin, Glencolumbkille, Banagh, Donegal.
Grianan of AileachThe earthen and stone inclosure known as Grimm of Aileach, Burt, West Innishowen, Donegal.
Giant's RingThe earthen inclosure and Cromlech called the Giant's Ring near Ballylessan, Drumbo, Upper Castlereagh, Down.
Downpatrick Mound of Down?The earthen fort at Downpatrick, Leoale, Down.
Staigue stone fortStone structure called Staigue Fort, Kilcrogham, Dunkerron, Kerry.RingfortIron Age
Greenmount MotteThe earthen mound at Greenmount, Kilsaren, Ardee, Kerry.Motte over a SouterrainAnglo-Norman and older
Ballina megalithic tomb The stone monument at Ballyna, Kilmoremoy, Tyrawly, Mayo.Chamber tombBronze Age
Glebe Stone CirclesCairns and stone circles at Moytura, Cong, Kilmaine, Mayo.Stone Circles
Brú na Bóinne World heritage siteThe tumuli, New Grange, Knowth and Dowth, Monknewton and Dowth, Upper Slane, Meath.Megalithic complexNeolithic
Hill of TaraThe earthworks on the hill of Tara, Skreen, Meath.multi-period
TelltownThe earthworks at Teltown, Upper Kells, Meath.Bronze Age
Hill of WardThe earthworks at Wardstown, Athboy, Lune, Meath.RingfortIron Age
Slieve na CalliaghThe two central tumuli on the hills called Slieve Na Calliagh, Loughcrew, Fore, Meath.Megalithic complexNeolithic
Heapstown CairnThe Cairn at Heapstown, Kilmacallan, Tirerrill, Sligo.Passage tomb
Knocknarea passage tombs & Medb's CairnSepulchral remains at Carrowmore. The cairn called Miscaun Mave or Knocknarea, Kilmacowen, Curbury, Sligo.Passage tombNeolithic
Drumlohan Souterrain & Ogham StonesThe cave containing Ogham inscribed stones at Drumloghan, Stradbally, Decies-without-Drum, Waterford.
Hill of Uisneach The stone monument called the Catstone and the cemetery on the hill of Usnagh, Killare, Rathconrath, Westmeath.Royal innauguartion site