Reasons for Designation
Lundy is a small,steep sided island in the Bristol Channel,16m north of Hartland Point,north Devon.Aligned north-south,it is 6km long by 1km wide and supports a predominately moorland vegetation.The 100m high cliffs and tabular form give it a striking appearance,visible in clear weather from parts of south west England and south Wales.Lundy's remoteness and (until the 19th century construction of the Beach Road) its inaccessibility,combined with a lack of shelter and cultivable soils,has meant that it has escaped more recent occupation or development.It therefore preserves a remarkable variety of archaeological sites from early prehistory(c.8000 BC)onwards,representing evidence for habitation,fortification,farming and industry.There are also archaeological remains in the waters surrounding the island - over 150 shipwrecks are already recorded.Most of the island's archaeology is well documented from detailed survey in the 1980s and 1990s.Standing stones are prehistoric ritual or ceremonial monuments with dates ranging from the late Neolithic period to the end of the Bronze Age.They are often(as on Lundy)conspicuously sited and close to other contemporary monument classes;many,for example,are found on the edge of round cairns and barrows.Nine standing stones are recorded on Lundy,all believed to be still in their original positions and constituting an important group.Their survival in an environment virtually unchanged from prehistoric times means that they can be clearly seen in terms of the topographic setting in which they were constructed.A study of this group of stones concluded that,together,they represent evidence of a solar calendar.The standing stone close to the top of Beacon Hill,100m north east of The Old Lighthouse,survives well in its original position.The stone and its surrounding soil will provide evidence for the construction and use of the monument and of environmental conditions prevalent at the time.
Details
The monument includes a standing stone 100m north east of The Old Lighthouse,Lundy.It is one of the nine standing stones which have been recorded on Lundy,all of which are to be found across the southern part of the island.The stone is of local granite and measures 1.45m high,0.75m wide and 0.4m thick.It is aligned north east to south west.It is not earthfast but secured upright by small stones packed beneath and around the base.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27621
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
