Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1882 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act for the better protection of Ancient Monuments |
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| Citation | 45 & 46 Vict. c. 73 |
| Introduced by | John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 18 August 1882 |
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Status: Amended
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1882 was a special law passed by the Parliament in 1882. It was created to help protect old and important historical sites. Before this law, many ancient places were not officially looked after.
John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury, a politician and scientist, worked hard to get this law passed. He understood that the government needed to step in and protect these valuable sites. After several tries, the Act finally became law. This led to the first-ever Inspector of Ancient Monuments, General Pitt-Rivers, being appointed in 1882. His job was to make sure these important places were kept safe for everyone.
Contents
Protecting Ancient Sites: The 1882 List
The 1882 Act included a list of the first 68 historical sites that the new law would protect. Most of these were very old, from prehistoric times. Some were already famous, while others were chosen because they were in danger of being damaged.
England and Wales: Early Protected Places
In England and Wales, 26 sites were listed in the Act. They were found in just 10 different counties. Seven of these important places were in Wiltshire. Wales had three sites listed, one in each of its north, south, and west regions.
| Site Name | 1882 Description | Site type | Period | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plas Newydd Burial Chambers | The tumulus and dolmen, Plas Newydd, Llandedwen, Anglesea. | Chambered tomb | Neolithic | 53°12′14″N 4°13′04″W / 53.2038°N 4.2179°W |
| Wayland's Smithy | The tumulus known as Wayland Smith's Forge, Ashbury, Berkshire. | Long barrow | Neolithic | 51°34′02″N 1°35′43″W / 51.5672°N 1.5953°W |
| Uffington Castle | Uffington Castle, Uffington, Berkshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 51°34′29″N 1°34′12″W / 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°43′40″N 2°40′03″W / 54.7279°N 2.6676°W |
| Castlerigg stone circle | The stone circle on Castle Rigg, near Keswick, Crosthwaite, Cumberland. | Stone circle | Late Neolithic | 54°36′09″N 3°05′51″W / 54.6026°N 3.0975°W |
| Low Longrigg Stone Circles, Boot? | The stone circles on Burn Moor, St. Bees, Cumberland. | 5 Stone circles | Bronze Age | 54°24′40″N 3°16′33″W / 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°10′05″N 1°37′44″W / 53.1681°N 1.6289°W |
| Arbor Low | The tumulus known as Arborlow, Bakewell, Derbyshire. | Henge | Neolithic | 53°10′08″N 1°45′42″W / 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°13′12″N 1°34′12″W / 53.2199°N 1.5701°W |
| Minninglow | Minning Low, Brassington, Derbyshire. | Round barrow | Neolithic | 53°06′45″N 1°41′20″W / 53.11245°N 1.6888°W |
| Arthur's Stone | Arthur's Quoit, Gower, Llanridian, Glamorganshire. | Chambered tomb | Neolithic | 51°35′37″N 4°10′46″W / 51.5936°N 4.1794°W |
| Uley Long Barrow | The tumulus at Uley, Gloucestershire. | Long barrow | Neolithic | 51°41′55″N 2°18′21″W / 51.6986°N 2.3058°W |
| Kit's Coty House | Kits Coty House, Aylesford, Kent. | Long barrow | Neolithic | 51°19′12″N 0°30′10″E / 51.3199°N 0.5029°E |
| Hunsbury Hill | Danes Camp, Hardingstone, Northamptonshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 52°13′08″N 0°55′13″W / 52.2189°N 0.9202°W |
| Castle Dykes Enclosure | Castle Dykes, Farthingston, Northamptonshire. | Hillfort enclosure | Iron Age to Roman | 52°12′07″N 1°05′53″W / 52.2019°N 1.0980°W |
| Rollright Stones | The Rollrich Stones, Little Rollright, Oxfordshire. | Megaliths | Neolithic and Bronze Age | 51°58′32″N 1°34′15″W / 51.9755°N 1.5708°W |
| Pentre Ifan | The Pentre Evan Cromlech, Nevern, Pembrokeshire. | Chambered tomb | Neolithic | 51°59′56″N 4°46′12″W / 51.9990°N 4.7700°W |
| Stanton Drew stone circles | The ancient stones at Stanton Drew, Somersetshire. | '2 Stone circles | Neolithic | 51°22′04″N 2°34′31″W / 51.3678°N 2.5753°W |
| Stoney Littleton Long Barrow | The chambered tumulus at Stoney Littleton, Wellow, Somersetshire. | Chambered tomb | Neolithic | 51°18′48″N 2°22′53″W / 51.3133°N 2.3813°W |
| Cadbury Castle | Cadbury Castle, South Cadbury, Somersetshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 51°01′27″N 2°31′54″W / 51.0241°N 2.5318°W |
| Mayburgh Henge | Mayborough, near Penrith, Barton, Westmoreland. | Henge | Neolithic or Bronze Age | 54°38′56″N 2°44′47″W / 54.6489°N 2.7465°W |
| King Arthur's Round Table (henge) | Arthur's Round Table, Penrith, Barton, Westmoreland. | Henge | Neolithic | 54°38′54″N 2°44′25″W / 54.6483°N 2.7403°W |
| Stonehenge | The group of stones known as Stonehenge, Amesbury, Wiltshire. | Henge | Bronze Age | 51°10′44″N 1°49′34″W / 51.1788°N 1.8262°W |
| Old Sarum | Old Sarum, Wiltshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 51°05′33″N 1°48′21″W / 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°25′43″N 1°51′15″W / 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°24′31″N 1°51′04″W / 51.4086°N 1.8511°W |
| Silbury Hill | Silbury Hill, Abury, Wiltshire. | Mound | Neolithic | 51°24′56″N 1°51′27″W / 51.4156°N 1.8575°W |
| The Devil's Den | The Dolmen (Devil's Den), near Marlborough, Fyfield, Wiltshire. | Chambered tomb | Neolithic | 51°25′33″N 1°46′57″W / 51.4257°N 1.7826°W |
| Barbury Castle | Barbury Castle, Ogboume, St. Andrews, and Swindon, Wiltshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 51°29′07″N 1°47′11″W / 51.4853°N 1.7865°W |
Scotland: Ancient Sites Protected
The 1882 list for Scotland included 21 monuments. Most of these were prehistoric sites, meaning they were built before written history. Two were from the Neolithic period, five from the Bronze Age, and eight from the Iron Age. Six sites were from early Christian or Pictish times. Some prehistoric stones also had Christian additions. Sites now looked after by Historic Scotland are marked 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°16′32″N 2°21′59″W / 57.2755°N 2.3665°W |
| Tap o' Noth, Rhynie | The vitrified fort on the Hill of Noath, Rhynie, Aberdeenshire. | Hillfort | Iron Age | 57°21′06″N 2°51′27″W / 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°21′23″N 2°33′48″W / 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°50′07″N 2°21′56″W / 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°42′26″N 2°43′32″W / 55.7071°N 2.7256°W |
| Dun Dornaigil | The Dun of Dornadilla, Durness, Sutherlandshire. | Broch (HS) | Iron Age | 58°22′00″N 4°38′19″W / 58.3667°N 4.6386°W |
| Sueno's Stone | The sculptured stone called Suenos Stone, near Forres, Rafford, Elgin. | Standing stone | 9th century | 57°36′57″N 3°35′52″W / 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°34′37″N 2°35′25″W / 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°47′03″N 2°44′27″W / 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°28′25″N 4°04′27″W / 57.4737°N 4.0743°W |
| Dun Telve and Dun Troddan | The Pictish Towers at Glenelg, Inverness. | Brochs (HS) | Iron Age | 57°11′41″N 5°35′41″W / 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°59′24″N 4°29′40″W / 54.9899°N 4.4945°W |
| Cat Stane | The Catstane, an inscribed pillar, Kirkliston, Linlithgow. | Inscribed stone | Bronze Age & 5th century | 55°57′17″N 3°21′52″W / 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°00′07″N 3°13′43″W / 59.002°N 3.2287°W |
| Maeshowe | The Chambered mound of Maeshowe, Firth and Stennis, Orkney. | Chambered cairn (HS) | Neolithic | 58°59′48″N 3°11′18″W / 58.9966°N 3.1882°W |
| Callanish Stones | The stones of Callernish, Uig, Ross. | Stone circles | Bronze Age & 5th century | 58°11′49″N 6°44′42″W / 58.197°N 6.745°W |
| Broch of Clickimin | The Burgh of Clickanim, Sound, Shetland. | Broch (HS) | Iron Age | 60°08′57″N 1°09′57″W / 60.1492°N 1.1657°W |
| Broch of Mousa | The Pictish tower at Mousa in Shetland, Dunrossness, Shetland. | Broch (HS) | Iron Age | 59°59′44″N 1°10′57″W / 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°00′26″N 4°46′54″W / 55.0071°N 4.7818°W |
| Kirkmadrine Early Christian Stones | The pillars at Kirkmadrine, Stoneykirk, Wigtonshire. | Inscribed stones (HS) | 6th century | 54°47′37″N 4°59′17″W / 54.7936°N 4.9881°W |
Ireland: Historic Monuments List
In 1882, all of Ireland was part of the British administration. Later laws in Ireland started using the term historic monuments. This term is still used in Northern Ireland today. Three of the sites on the 1882 list are in what is now Northern Ireland. The other fifteen sites are in the Republic of Ireland. These are now protected by the National Monuments Service. Two of these sites are even World Heritage Sites! Like in England and Wales, most of the sites chosen in 1882 were thought to be prehistoric. However, experts are still learning about the exact age of many of them.
| 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°20′43″N 6°43′07″W / 54.3453°N 6.7186°W |
| Glencolumbkille Cashel | Stone monuments and groups of sepulchral cists in Glen Maulin, Glencolumbkille, Banagh, Donegal. | 51°33′53″N 9°05′14″W / 51.5646°N 9.0871°W | ||
| Grianan of Aileach | The earthen and stone inclosure known as Grimm of Aileach, Burt, West Innishowen, Donegal. | 55°01′00″N 7°26′00″W / 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°32′25″N 5°57′00″W / 54.5403°N 5.95°W | ||
| Downpatrick Mound of Down? | The earthen fort at Downpatrick (Dunkeltair), Leoale, Down. | 54°19′56″N 5°43′16″W / 54.3323°N 5.7212°W | ||
| Staigue stone fort | Stone structure called Staigue Fort, Kilcrogham, Dunkerron, Kerry. | Ringfort | Iron Age | 51°48′19″N 10°00′57″W / 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°52′41″N 6°23′08″W / 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°06′26″N 9°09′58″W / 54.1071°N 9.166°W |
| Glebe Stone Circles | Cairns and stone circles at Moytura, Cong, Kilmaine, Mayo. | Stone Circles | 53°32′52″N 9°15′54″W / 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°41′34″N 6°26′57″W / 53.6928°N 6.4493°W |
| Hill of Tara | The earthworks on the hill of Tara, Skreen, Meath. | multi-period | 53°34′39″N 6°36′43″W / 53.5775°N 6.6119°W | |
| Telltown | The earthworks at Teltown (Taltin), Upper Kells, Meath. | Bronze Age | 53°42′01″N 6°45′59″W / 53.7003°N 6.7665°W | |
| Hill of Ward | The earthworks at Wardstown (Tlaghta), Athboy, Lune, Meath. | Ringfort | Iron Age | 53°37′26″N 6°53′10″W / 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°44′40″N 7°06′42″W / 53.7445°N 7.1117°W |
| Heapstown Cairn | The Cairn at Heapstown, Kilmacallan, Tirerrill, Sligo. | Passage tomb | 54°05′42″N 8°20′54″W / 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°15′32″N 8°34′29″W / 54.2589°N 8.5746°W |
| Drumlohan Souterrain & Ogham Stones | The cave containing Ogham inscribed stones at Drumloghan, Stradbally, Decies-without-Drum, Waterford. | 52°09′48″N 7°27′55″W / 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°29′24″N 7°33′43″W / 53.49°N 7.562°W |
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